NRU to act against hooligans

NRU to act against hooligansPost-match brawl is being Both Kudus and Walvis Bay Rugby club have brought Namibia Rugby Union acting CEO Elizma Theron says the Kudus and Walvis Bay rugby clubs have submitted charge sheets following a brawl after a premier league match at the coastal town.

“It will take approximately two weeks to finalise the findings and pronounce judgment on the issue,” she said.

“We received the relevant documentation and handed it over to the NRU Governance Committee to make recommendations on what should be done next.

“The NRU views what happened in a very serious light and will ensure that the guilty parties are dealt with accordingly.”

Theron said the incident had cast Namibian rugby and all participants in a bad light.

“I cannot say at this stage what will happen. The cases will first have to be presented. We will look at the players, spectators and management of both teams who behaved badly. We will not accept this type of behaviour. Those found guilty will be charged and must face the consequences.”

It is expected that the NRU will analyse video footage of the match produced by an NRU official who attended the game.

A video clip posted on social media resulted in a flood of criticism and condemnation.

The majority of the estimated 600 spectators expressed their dismay. Some called for improved security and appropriate disciplinary measures to be taken by the NRU. Suggestions were also made that no match should be played without an accredited NRU match commissioner present.

Walvis Bay Rugby Club confirmed they had laid charges of misconduct against Kudus and said it was contemplating barring certain Kudu supporters from attending games in future.

Walvis Bay RC alleged that emotions boiled over after a linesman hit one of their players with a flag. This apparently happened after an argument about a decision involving a Kudu player who allegedly breached the touch line on his way to scoring a try.

The linesman ran to the player and pushed him immediately after the final whistle. A Kudu supporter then entered the fray and grabbed the Walvis Bay player.

Supporters subsequently invaded the pitch and started assaulting the Walvis Bay players.

“World Rugby makes provision to deal with player-on-player infringements, and not for infringements involving spectators and players, since they did not anticipate such behaviour. There was also no NRU designated match commissioner in Narraville,” said a Walvis Bay Ruby Club official.

Kudus, on the other hand, brought four charges involving incidents of head-butting, striking a player with an elbow, using foul language towards an official and assaulting a medic against Walvis Bay Rugby Club.

According to Kudu chairman Chandler Plato the feud between the two clubs is long-standing and former Walvis Bay mayor Derek Klazen once intervened and summoned the clubs to his office to resolve the issue.

“Kudu players kept calm and did not react after they were provoked throughout the match by Walvis Bay players. The charges we brought against Walvis Bay RC involve incidents which took place during the game only. We accepted all contentious decisions by the referee. The video clip doing its rounds on social media clearly shows a Walvis Bay player throwing the first punch,” Plato said.

He said the brawl after the match erupted after a spectator had reprimanded a Walvis Bay player for using crude language.

“Video footage shows Kudu players shaking hands with Walvis Bay players immediately after the game. A sudden change in attitude can be observed after the referee informed Walvis Bay, who were under the impression they had won, that they had lost the match. The Kudu players simply moved onto the pith to shield the referee and his instants from angry Walvis Bay players,” he claimed.

Plato added that the club expected the NRU to act swiftly and objectively.

“The incident should be put into context to determine what truly happened and why it happened. We will act decisively against any spectator guilty of disorderly behaviour and abide by the NRU judgement. The club will also identify possible loopholes and rectify these.”

Kudu vice-chairman Donovan Paulse commented that sport had the capacity to unite divided communities, but individual egos were not allowing that to happen in Walvis Bay.

OTIS FINCK