French refs targeted by new wave of menace
The boss of French rugby referees has blown the whistle on the growing criticism of his officials in the Top 14. According to Didier Mene, a former international ref, “rugby is heading towards the excesses we see in football. I predict that is going to happen.
“We have to stop being blind.The values of our sport have been buried for a long time.We have to attack the root of the problem and that is the behaviour of club presidents and coaches.”
Mene is convinced that outbursts from those influential sources are beginning to find an echo among players.
Two recent outrages support his theory. Silvere Tian, an Oyonnax fullback, was yellow-carded during a defeat by Grenoble.
His reaction was to swear crudely at referee Romain Poite and threaten him with violence. He even had to be dragged away by one of his own coaches when he looked ready to carry out the attack at the final whistle.
His 14-month ban means Tian, 36 last week from the Ivory Coast, will almost certainly have played his last game.
Then there is the case of Kiwi No.8 Rory Grice, of Grenoble, who, angered by a decision from referee Alexandre Ruiz during a match against Bordeaux-Begles, took out his gumshield and hurled it at the official. He has been banned for nine weeks.
Mene adds: “I am anxious about the effects of professionalism.Two international referees were threatened and insulted last season.
“If the players get out of hand, it is because the context incites them to this kind of excess. Presidents, even those who have just arrived in the game, and coaches talk about refereeing all season long.
“And that is even when they win.The floodgates are open from now on. It is very worrying.”
The reference to rookie presidents no doubt concerns Eric de Cromieres, a lifelong Michelin executive, who took over that position with Clermont on his retirement.
De Cromieres has written an open letter to both Federation and League in which he lays the blame for problems in the game squarely on the standard of refereeing.
“As long as they are not at the right level, it just won’t work,” he writes, while accusing referee Ruiz of ten disputable decisions which all went against his side during their Top 14 semi-final defeat by Racing 92.
De Cromieres even went as far as suggesting that the shared home region of Racing hooker Dimitri Szarzewski and the officials might have played a part.
For good measure, Clermont coach Frank Azema slammed the video ref for alleged double standards in allowing a winning try for Argentine winger Juan Imhoff and ruling out a similar one from Wesley Fofana, his own centre. The four video viewings of the game all went the way of Racing.
Mene doubts the efficacity of the disciplinary commissions whose job it is to preserve an ethical sport. He says: “I have the feeling people are not afraid of their sanctions. Players and coaches are heavily punished, but do it again. As if it made them laugh.”
That could well apply to former France coach Bernard Laporte during his management of Toulon.
Four years ago, he was banned from the pitch and dressing-rooms for nine weeks after insulting referees at the end of matches against Montpellier and Perpignan.
Two years later, he was given another suspension of 13 weeks for his remarks about referee Laurent Cardona, who was in charge of a Toulon home defeat by Clermont.
Laporte, who repeated his comments on radio, said: “We did make a mistake, but it is not because we make one that the ref has to make them for 80 minutes. He was useless throughout the match. He is always useless, a total incompetent.”
Mene believes some clubs have the idea that those who complain loudest will thus succeed in being reffed more kindly.
He says: “I don’t know where this urban myth comes from. Even clubs known to be above all polemic are concerned. I can guarantee that this strategy will not pay off.
“If a referee acts out of weakness, he will be punished. I hear it said that referees would be better if they were better paid.The presidents think everything can be bought.
“I am totally against this race for money.We have to preserve our economic and intellectual independence.
“It seems to me indispensable to remain in contact with real life.The ideal, apart from the international referees, is semi-professionalism.”
There are 3,275 referees at all levels of French rugby. Four of them – Romain Poite, Jerome Garces, Pascal Gauzere and Mathieu Reynal – are fully professional and acquitted themselves well at the last World Cup. Five more are semipro and the rest are paid match fees and expenses.
The elite foursome make around £50,000 a year from their activity in the Top 14.This is topped up by £675 match fees for European games and £1,850 for Six Nations games.
At least, for that, they don’t get the equivalent of snarling, finger-jabbing footballers all around them.
Well, as their boss might say, not yet they don’t.
“People are not afraid of their sanctions. Players and coaches are heavily punished but do it again. As if it made them laugh” - Didier Mene, boss
of French refs