By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been banned from all rugby activity for two months for making an hour-long video criticising officials.
Erasmus was found guilty on all six charges brought against him after he made the video after July’s defeat in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions.
The 49 year old charges were listed as follows:
- threatened a match official that unless a requested meeting took place, he would publish footage containing clips criticising the match official’s performance and then making good on that threat; published or permitted to be published the Erasmus Video containing numerous comments that were either abusive, insulting and/or offensive to match officials;
- attacked, disparaged and/or denigrated the game and the match officials;
- did not accept or observe the authority and decisions of match officials;
- published or caused to be published criticism of the manner in which a match official handled a match;
- engaged in conduct or activity that may impair public confidence in the integrity and good character of match official(s); and
- brought the game into disrepute when he published or caused to be published the Erasmus Video.
World Rugby found the video contained “premediated, multiple abusive and insulting comments and attacks on the officials’ integrity”.
Erasmus and SA Rugby, who also faced two charges, have confirmed in a statement that they will appeal the decisions. Erasmus used social media to highlight refereeing inconsistencies, starting with the Lions’ defeat to South Africa ‘A’, and after the first Test released an hour-long video critiquing the performance of the officials.
He is also suspended from all match-day activities, including coaching and media engagement, until September 30th, 2022.
It means the mastermind of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup triumph will be able to play no part in Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.