4.4 Good sportmanship and fairness  (Page 2/5)

Van Zyl’s excuse afterwards was that he acted in such a roguish manner because the referee was “anti-South African”. He and his supporters must understand that such dishonourable behaviour is anti-South African because it has a ripple effect.

In a civilised country spectators show their dissatisfaction by booing or hissing. They don’t rush onto the field in full view of millions of people (including children) and attack the referee. This also applies to soccer thugs who have in the past attacked not only the referee, but also other spectators.

But nowadays it seems as if people are increasingly regarding such hooligans as heroes. Heaven forbid!

Eikestad news, 30 august 2002 (translated report)

Club suspended in centenary year

A dark cloud is threatening the centenary celebrations of the Pniel Villagers Rugby Club after the club was suspended for two matches.

The suspension was imposed as a result of a brawl that broke out after the match between Pniel Villagers and UWC on the UWC field on 10 August.

The chairman of the club, Mr Keith Cyster, commented that the whole village was in a state of mourning, because everybody in the community “eats, works and breathes rugby – it is like a religion”.

According to Cyster the match was played in a good spirit and the spectators were treated to sparkling rugby. In the second half – after a half-time score of 0-27 - Pniel Villagers fought back valiantly to win the match 32-30.

After the players had left the field, a UWC player who had been given a yellow card earlier on in the match, rushed towards Garland Alberts of the Pniel Villagers team, insulted and punched him.

The UWC player then turned menacingly on his opponents’ female supporters. The Pniel Villagers players immediately reacted violently, whereupon stones rained down upon them all from the pavilion.

Cyster said that the UWC spectators even hurled bricks that they had torn from the paving and the steps of the pavilion at the Pniel Villagers supporters.

He also confirmed that some of the players and supporters had been treated for stab and slash wounds.

The Pniel Villagers management asked their counterparts from UWC to identify the culprits and to resolve the matter internally, but they received no response.

The Western Province Rugby Football Union therefore suspended both clubs for two matches. Pniel Villagers were given a fine of R5 000 and ordered to pay R1 500 damages. UWC were ordered to pay R2 000.

Pniel Villagers immediately appealed against the suspension and the club was allowed to play against Kuils River last Saturday.

The appeal committee’s decision is expected to be made known next week.

Mr Koos Basson, the president of the WP Rugby Football Union, has said that the union will not tolerate any form of violence on the rugby field. He gave the assurance that severe action would be taken against offenders.

Die burger, 21 august 2002 (translated report)

Trainer in hot water over attack on day of July

Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal trainer Anil Maharaj is facing suspension for life after he allegedly attacked a paid supervisor at Greyville on the day of the July.