NZ Police decide not to file charges in Rugby World Cup abuse cases
There won’t be any prosecutions in New Zealand arising from the online abuse of match officials at the Rugby World Cup.
Despite a big push from World Rugby, and a prosecution in Australia earlier this week, New Zealand Police told Stuff yesterday that investigations had been completed without any charges being laid.
“Police investigating two complaints received from World Rugby about online abuse of match officials have decided not to file charges,“a Police spokesperson said.
“Police interviewed two people involved in the separate incidents relating to last year’s Rugby World Cup.
“Both had not appreciated the effect that their actions would have on the match officials and expressed genuine remorse.
“They have undertaken to write personal written apologies to the officials concerned as part of the resolution process.
“Police has already communicated this outcome to World Rugby.”
In February, NZ Police confirmed to Stuff three complaints had been received from World Rugby in relation to threats made against referees at last year’s tournament.
The complaints related to alleged breaches of the Harmful Digital Communications Act and threatening to kill. At that stage, investigations were under way in Canterbury and the Eastern districts, with Auckland staff assessing the third complaint.
NZ Police confirmed to Stuff yesterday that the third complaint did not reach the threshold for further investigation as a criminal offence.
A World Rugby report that established 21 social media accounts verified as originating from New Zealand, were found to have sent abuse to match officials or players involved in Rugby World Cup 2023.
In releasing its findings, World Rugby confirmed that in partnership with its engaged forensic research data analyst, they were working with law enforcement authorities in Australia, South Africa, France, the UK and New Zealand to help prosecute those responsible.
As a result, the decision not to file charges in New Zealand will disappoint World Rugby, which views prosecutions as the necessary deterrent to stop online abuse.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin, in a statement released after the prosecution in Australia, said: “World Rugby welcomes this landmark outcome.
“The vile and toxic abuse is an all too common occurrence for many sports men and women and public figures, and we hope that this sends a very strong message to online trolls that such behaviour is totally unacceptable and that the sport and the authorities are prepared to take action.”
In December, International referee Tom Foley, who was the TMO for the World Cup final won 12-11 by South Africa over the All Blacks, announced he was stepping away from the international game after receiving a “torrent of abuse” online following that contest.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson condemned the abuse.
“We think it’s unacceptable,” he said in December. “We’ve certainly been in touch with [RFU boss] Bill [Sweeney], we feel for Tom at the moment, and it is a concerning trend in the game. There is some work going on behind the scenes on what we can do as relates to social media.
“We certainly don’t tolerate it, and want to work hard with all officials across the game to make sure they’re well-supported.”