Cape Town school sports racial incident: Boland Rugby Referee Society explains protocol

An investigation is underway after a referee stopped play during a school rugby match after claiming to have heard a racial slur being made on the pitch. 

The Western Cape Education Department, Fairmont High School, and The Settlers High School are looking into what happened at the weekend.

The referee was heard telling coaches, “There was a K-word going on here, and I won’t tolerate it. I’m going to call the game, unfortunately.”

His quick and definitive response was praised by CapeTalk host Lester Kiewit, who went on to question what the standard protocol is in such a situation.  

The Chairperson of the Boland Rugby Referee Society, Sebastian Abrahams, said there is a protocol for dealing with racist remarks during a match.

“If the player can be identified, [protocol] is to send that player off the field and talk to the captains… and then afterwards this is put in an after-match report about the incident.”

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Abrahams said the referee has some discretion, particularly if the person responsible cannot immediately be identified.

“What he also could have done… if he couldn’t identify the player was call the two captains and talk to them and say, ‘Somebody was making a racist remark.'”

Abrahams said often the ref will be able to rely on the players to help identify the guilty party.

“You know, at school rugby, if you talk to the players, somebody will definitely try to identify somebody.”

He explained that once the match is over, the incident must also be formally recorded and passed up through the rugby structures.

“The after-match report goes to the union, and then the union will deal with that.”

For Kiewit, the referee’s decision highlighted the responsibility officials have to act when unacceptable behaviour spills onto the field.

“Ï say, ‘Well done, Mr Ref.’ That’s leadership.”

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