SportRugby referees in Sri Lanka are presently accused of incompetence in handling the Schools’ League. There is concern over the physical fitness of referees in their ability to keep time with the fast-paced schools’ game. Nizam Jamaldeen, President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees’ Society (SLRRS), said, this however is no reason for crowd violence and such incidents are not justified under any circumstances. Also spectators have no right to step on to the field and take matters into their own hands, whatever they may feel about the referee’s decisions,” Jamaldeen said. However, he acknowledged that crowd hostility impacted referees badly in that it discouraged youngsters from taking up refereeing, and parents showing reluctance to send their children to be trained as referees.

Source: Sunday Times May 26, 2018 19:07 UTC