A top Eastern Cape club rugby official has been banned from attending Super 14 matches after chaos erupted at a crunch Eastern Cape Super 14 clash between Trying Stars and Joubertina United at Londt Park.
At the end of the game on Saturday a week ago, a brawl broke out with men and women attacking one another and hitting each other with bottles and chairs.
Super 14 tournament director Richard Jordaan and Avril Marais (a sideline manager and time keeper) subsequently levelled accusations of abuse against Joubertina’s director of rugby, Dudley Maasdorp.
Super 14 rugby bosses were quick to take action and banned Maasdorp from further participation in the tournament.
Because of the ruling, Maasdorp was not allowed to attend Joubertina’s quarterfinal match against Progress at the Central Field in Kariega on Saturday.
Despite repeated efforts to contact him for comment, Maasdorp did not respond.
He had said in a WhatsApp message earlier that he would like to give his version of events, but did not answer calls later in the day.
Joubertina chief executive the Rev Francois Maya, however, said his club were appealing against Maasdorp’s ban, and claimed there was a witch hunt against the club.
“We are playing under tremendous pressure by officials and management of the Super 14 competition as we sense a witch hunt on our club to be weakened.
“The playoffs that we played last week at Londt Park were characterised by on-field errors by the referee that cost Joubertina a home quarterfinal.
“We were taken by surprise when we were furnished with reports from the Super 14 management, who, according to us, do not have jurisdiction over club affairs in EPRU.
“The very same officials transgress their own rules to allow people onto the field of play that do not belong to any club on the day.
“Our review on the matter will be based on the transgression of procedure according to the constitution, as the executive has final powers over any subcommittee.”
Jordaan alleged that apart from constant verbal abuse, Maasdorp laid a hand on his chest and later threw a ball at him.
In a letter to Joubertina, executive committee Super 14 chair Asanda Simoyi said: “There is no reason at all why anyone involved should [allegedly] lay a hand or verbal abuse on a match official or any other official of the tournament or member appointed by the tournament.
“If it does not happen in the most pressured environment of Test rugby, why should it happen at a club match?
“It must be clamped down on most severely.
“Even the tournament rules condemn attacks on match officials.
“Based on the above, we concluded that Mr Maasdorp, who is your director of rugby, is not allowed to partake in any of the events of the Eastern Cape Super 14.
“He will not attend any games with immediate effect.
“Failure by the club to ensure the above or to comply with this will result in points being taken from your team and given to the other team and the match will be stopped.”
In his report after the game, Jordaan said: “The match started and Dudley Maasdorp [allegedly] started with remarks towards the match referee and the officials at the technical table.
“Mr Marais approached him and asked him to refrain from making such remarks.
“Mr Maasdorp clearly had no respect towards Mr Marais, and even went so far as to tell him ‘this is not your farm, where you tell people what to do and say’.
“The verbal abuse and constant attack on match officials on their decision continued throughout the game.
“ ... Some of the club’s executive members [allegedly] constantly verbally abused and shouted at the match officials’ decisions and hurled insults to myself and the technical table during the second half of the match.
“This [is a] total violation of the technical zone protocols, which was forwarded to clubs as to who is allowed to be in the technical zone.
“At about 10 minutes before the end of the game, Mr Maasdorp and a water carrier of Joubertina United plus water carrier of Trying Stars were close to the touchline near to the try line of Joubertina United.
“I then approached all three of them and asked them to move back to the technical area and informed Mr Maasdorp he is not allowed inside the playing area.
“Mr Maasdorp refused to move away and told me that I have a vendetta against Joubertina United and him.
“As soon as the match finished, Mr Maasdorp approached the technical table and [allegedly] started to abuse the match officials again and he was accompanied by some of his executive members.
“During that time, Mr Maasdorp approached me and [allegedly] verbally abused me and pointed fingers at me.
“I then told him not to do that. He again approached me and stood in my personal space, and I asked him, ‘What do you want to do, Sir?’.
“He then [allegedly] laid his hand on my chest and I told him, you will not touch me, and we stood chest to chest.
“I then handed the match ball to the assistant coach of Joubertina United, and Mr Maasdorp took the ball out of the assistant coach’s hands and threw the ball in my direction hitting me on the chest.”
Maya said: “We have noted the sanction of Mr D Maasdorp and we have responded to the president’s request on reasons not to have Mr Maasdorp suspended.”
He said that no disciplinary sitting was held.
The Herald
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