ABUSE OF MATCH OFFICIALS - IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL PLAYERS COACHES AND SPECTATORS

Please read the message below and be aware that we need to be sqeaky clean on this matter.Referees are guests of the club and must be accorded a proper welcome and NOT subjected to verbal abuse. To Hon Secretaries of all Clubs in Kent Sadly by the 22nd October 2016 there have already been 10 cases of match official abuse - by players, coaches and spectators We have written each season to explain that any such abuse is unacceptable. We have carried out our stated policy of adding 4 weeks as a deterrent to each sentence so that even for the milder offences, the minimum suspension is now 7 weeks. (Club Disciplinary Officers - please note) The game cannot survive without Referees and Touch Judges. A Touch Judge once approved by the Referee counts as a match official, even if he or she is a club volunteer. Please pass this message to your members. Tim Fagg Chairman, Disciplinary Committee

26 October 2016