Yahoo - AFP, November
29, 2014
London (AFP) - Two people have been banned from Twickenham for two years after being found to have aimed homophobic abuse at referee Nigel Owens, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced on Friday.
Pair banned for homophobic abuse of referee Owens |
London (AFP) - Two people have been banned from Twickenham for two years after being found to have aimed homophobic abuse at referee Nigel Owens, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced on Friday.
"Following
the RFU's investigations into the allegation of homophobic abuse aimed at
referee Nigel Owens at the QBE International against New Zealand, two people
have received a ban from all matches at Twickenham Stadium for a period of two
years," the RFU said in a statement.
"In
addition, they will pay £1,000 ($1,560, 1,260 euros) each to a charity of
Nigel Owens' choice. There is a second investigation still ongoing."
Welsh
official Owens, who is openly gay, was targeted by supporters during England's
24-21 defeat by New Zealand at Twickenham on November 8.
The matter
first came to light when a spectator wrote a letter to British newspaper The
Guardian in which he accused a group of male fans of "hurling ... nasty,
foul-mouthed, racist, homophobic abuse" at Owens.
Owens, who
is one of the sport's most high-profile referees, had previously called for
supporters to be issued with stadium bans in cases where allegations of
homophobic abuse are proven.
"If
someone has gone to the trouble to send a letter to the paper and say that this
was disgusting and the behaviour was totally out of order, then I would think
what they shouted was pretty bad and if that is the case then these people
should be banned from the game," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"They
need to be told that some behaviour is not acceptable, that crossing the line
of what is humour and banter is a fine line, but if you cross it then you have
to put up with the consequences."
RFU chief
executive Ian Ritchie said: "While instances of this nature are
exceptionally rare, the RFU takes rugby's values of teamwork, respect,
enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship very seriously, and is determined to
uphold them.
"We
are all guardians of these aspects of the game, on and off the pitch, and it is
these values which make the sport special."
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