Players.bio is a large online platform sharing the best live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, Golf, Rugby, Cricket, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA, plus the latest sports news, transfers & scores. Exclusive interviews, fresh photos and videos, breaking news. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7. Check our daily updates and make sure you don't miss anything about celebrities' lives.

Contacts

  • Owner: SNOWLAND s.r.o.
  • Registration certificate 06691200
  • 16200, Na okraji 381/41, Veleslavín, 162 00 Praha 6
  • Czech Republic

Refs should deal with player dissent 'in the harshest way' – URC referees boss Tappe Henning

United Rugby Championship (URC) referees’ boss Tappe Henning says referees should deal harshly with any forms of dissent that can bring the game into disrepute.

Henning was on a URC round table discussing matters regarding match officials when he was asked about the incident regarding Connacht centre Bundee Aki last weekend, when the Ireland international was red-carded for a dangerous clean out against Stormers wing Seabelo Senatla.

Aki proceeded to vociferously argue with the referee in an incident that has been widely condemned by pundits.

READ | Aki 'extremely apologetic' after seeing red against Stormers

Henning praised Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi for how he handled the incident, which could have become more emotional.

“Referees understand that players believe they are correct in their execution and what they want to do,” said Henning, the URC head of match officials.

“Players understand that, if the referee deems something is a red-card offence, it has a huge impact on their team and they are emotional. In those situations, you don’t need referees to overact.

“If it exceeds the limit and starts becoming directed at the match officials, accusing them of incompetence or directly aiming at the ability of the referee and their decision-making, we expect the referees to draw the line and say: ‘Bundee, we’ve had enough. I know you’re disappointed’.

“I thought Gianluca was very smart in how he said, ‘I explained’ and asked the captain to deal with the player, just to diffuse the situation.

“If it gets worse than that then the referee will definitely act. I’m pretty sure that in the disciplinary process, I’ve seen many times how the disciplinary hearing makes mention of the player accepting the decision of the match official

Read more on news24.com