The Tongatapu Rugby Sub-Union Committee has apologised to the Liahona players for what appeared to be an incorrect referee decision that led to their loss against Kolomotu’a last week at Teufaiva National Stadium.
As we reported earlier this week, an altercation following the loss led to an incident where a Liahona player allegedly punched a side line referee.
Despite the apologies, the Committee said it had banned the alleged Liahona offender from playing for life.
A fine of an undisclosed amount would also be imposed according to the Committee’s rule for such an offense, a Commiittee spokesperson told Kaniva News.
The Committee was also in the process of prosecuting the alleged offender, it said.
The spokesperson did not elaborate on the details of the referee’s mistake.
The incident occurred shortly after the referee allowed a late try just after full-time, but the ball was still in play, ultimately leading to Kolomotu’a’s victory.
Before awarding the try, the referee sought advice from the side line referee, who agreed it was a try for Kolomotu’a.
At the end of the game, the side line referee was seen talking to the Liahona players before he was apparently punched.
The alleged offender has been identified as 42-year-old Afimeimounga Hola.
Hola was recently on the news after he received a suspended sentence of 11 months imprisonment for two counts of using a service to abuse and causing harm by posting an electronic communication.
He was the first person convicted under Tonga’s Electronic Abuse Offences Act.
In that case, he broadcasted offences on Facebook and enticed others to commit arson against plaintiffs causing them fear and anxiety.
Lack of referees
The spokesperson expressed disappointment that the mistreatment of referees in rugby is still ongoing.
“The committee encounters significant challenges when attempting to secure referees to officiate our games during the annual district tournament,” he stated.
He said that the committee was underfunded and had to run the tournament in a very challenging situation.
He said that the incident between the Liahona and Kolomotu’a teams did not improve their situation.
“Previous incidents have shown that such abuse causes officials to leave the sport”.
He said the Committee has apologised to the Liahona team.
He also said that the “player who punched the referee is prosecuted and banned from playing for life”.
The match was part of the yearly district rugby union quarter-final games for men and women.
