The referees' strike

A few years ago Welsh referees went on strike for better compensation. The Golden Lions referees did the same last weekend, but for better - safer and less abusive - refereeing conditions.

There have been problems in the province for some time but matters have come to a head with the resignation of Willie Roos, a Test referee, and an attack on a referee as he sought refuge in his car.

The referees met on 5 September and decided that they would not referee the Pirates Grand Challenge semifinals and the Senior Grand Challenge that same afternoon.

The referees hoped that their stance would draw attention to the abuse they received from players, spectators and school and club officials and to what they perceived as inadequate support and action by the Golden Lions Rugby Union.

Incidents referred to by referees included:

* physical assault on a referee at a match between Monument and Paarl Boys' High on the second day of the St John's Festival at Easter.

It is alleged that the Monument coach, Oupa van der Merwe, a former provincial prop and at the time involved in selecting the South African Schools team, drove a shoulder into the referee in anger after Monument lost to Paarl Boys' High.

The matter was referred to the South African Schools executive who in turn refered the matter to Jannie Lubbe of SARU's judicial committee. His recommendation was that Van der Merwe be suspended from all involvement in national and provincial schools rugby till 2011.

He still coaches at his school. Christo Ferreira of SARU, who attends to disciplinary matters, pointed out that rugby unions do not have jurisdiction over schools.

* alleged verbal abuse of referees by Dries Maritz, the former provincial three-quarter, at the Roodepoort club. He appeared before the disciplinary committee, was found guilty and was, according to the club chairman André Dirker, "suspended for three years, with two years suspended. He was suspended only from coaching, and still attends all our matches. But he is there as a spectator and is not involved in any coaching or club activities, other than being a spectator.”

*alleged physical assault by former springbok Ian MacDonald, on a touch judge, a parent, at a match between Hoërskool Monument and Hoërskool Noordheuwel for which MacDonald's son played. MacDonald is on the coaching staff of the Golden Lions Under-19. He is still coaching and the hearing is still to take place.

* three youth club matches stopped on Saturday, 5 September because of referee abuse and parents' invasion of the field during which an 11-year-old player was allegedly hit by an invader.

* alleged damage of a referee's car while he was in it to avoid an attack by a Roodepoort player. The damage is said to total R30 000. Roodepoort chairman André Dirker said: “We had a meeting earlier this week [on Tuesday] and will have another meeting tonight [Wednesday]. We are in the process of trying to identify the person involved [culprit]. More than that I can't say at this stage, as I still have to appear before a Golden Lions Rugby Union disciplinary hearing next Tuesday, September 15. I will appear in my capacity as Roodepoort chairman.”

* alleged verbal abuse by players and officials of the Raiders club, both at Wanderers Club and Pirates Club.

In 2007 it is alleged that a referee was attacked at the Raiders club, his face slashed with a broken bottle and his car damaged. In the same year at the club a referee's car was allegedly shot at and he was punched.

The referees are asking the Union for stricter measures against players and clubs found guilty of abuse, physical or verbal.

* the attack on Willie Roos in Kimberley, allegedly by an employee of the sponsor, led to his resignation.

André Watson, South Africa's manager of referees, supports such strike action by referees in extreme cases provided that the referees' societies first engage in talks with their union.

At present south Africa has roughly one eighth of the referees it needs and, despite a big and expensive recruitment campaign, the number is dwindling and the main reason for the dwindling is the abuse which referees receive in various forms.