Barnes Says All Saffers are C*nts

[Niegs]

FFS, what's wrong with people? One would hope that those twats were somehow charged or punished.

It's an indicator of a shift from the values we used to be able to boast about over other sports. Now professionalism is in full swing and we end up just like them, or swinging hard in that direction?

It also highlights what happens at a lot of levels, sadly. Refs taking abuse from players and the touchlines in amateur comps played by weekend warriors. And people wonder why we have a shortage of them.

[SaintK]

Very diplomatic, far more than the cunt Erasmus could ever dream of being.

Barnes could not give a definitive answer when asked whether the tweets from Erasmus might have escalated the abuse, but he suggested that it could inspire others to target officials on social media.

“I don’t know the answer to that. What I would say is that if people see people in positions who are meant to uphold the values of our game openly criticising referees then it allows others to say, ‘People in positions of power can criticise, why can’t I?’”

[OomStruisbaai]

The Kiwis did the same back in 2007.

https://rugby365.com/countries/france/v ... spotlight/

[OomStruisbaai]

The coaches misunderstood his French

[PCPhil]

Only saw the title. Your point being?

[Enzedder]

I am still strongly in favour of keeping the Rugby Championship the way it is - but stories like this almost make me want to make them go away.

Rassie is the common denominator for this shite and we need the fans to rally up against this shite from him even more.

[assfly]

I listened to the podcast, and it's very disturbing.

But just a quick note that he also refers to abuse that other referees have also been receiving, including after the England France game earlier this year.

But I think it's fair to say that Rassie has made the situation worse.

[assfly]

I just cannot get my head around how somebody can get so upset over a game, that they actively seek out the referee on social media and threaten to rape his wife. These are sick, sick individuals. No matter how invested in a game you can be, it's still just a game and life goes on.

[average joe]

We are good cunts but there are some bad cunts out there too.

[sockwithaticket]

I listened to the podcast, and it's very disturbing.

But just a quick note that he also refers to abuse that other referees have also been receiving, including after the England France game earlier this year.

But I think it's fair to say that Rassie has made the situation worse.

Yeah, ref abuse has been escalating and not all of that is down to Rassie or South Africans, but he has definitely fanned the flames and seems to have cultivated a portion of Bok fans who are convinced the ref has fucked them after every single game.

I don't go on Facebook much, just check my feed for announcements from bands every few days, but I still have the Planet Rugby page displaying things for me and every single article or post that's touched on Rassie, Barnes or refs latelyhas by far the most engagement in terms of comments. Out of morbid curiosity I took a look and it's an absolute avalanche of comments from Saffas insisting one of the following: it's not that bad, it didn't happen/Barnes is making things up, Rassie is a hero, world rugby is out to get the Boks, all refs are terrible and telling them they're shit via social media is a valuable service to rugby, general whataboutism etc.

[OomStruisbaai]

To genralise like the heading all Saffers are cuntish is also cuntish.

Myself respect Rassie as a coach but will never agree with his videos or any ref bashing. Now I am also a cunt. Mooi. I am a good cunt.

[sockwithaticket]

To genralise like the heading all Saffers are cuntish is also cuntish.

Myself respect Rassie as a coach but will never agree with his videos or any ref bashing. Now I am also a cunt. Mooi. I am a good cunt.

Think you've been a little bit whooshed by the old bored's tradition of posting exagerrated or misleading titles.

[OomStruisbaai]

To genralise like the heading all Saffers are cuntish is also cuntish.

Myself respect Rassie as a coach but will never agree with his videos or any ref bashing. Now I am also a cunt. Mooi. I am a good cunt.

Think you've been a little bit whooshed by the old bored's tradition of posting exagerrated or misleading titles.

This isn't the fucking old bored. This is NPR. If you want to post shite, fuck back to the old bored.

[Paddington Bear]

I found it an exceptionally tough watch. Not sure where rugby goes from here if Rassie isn't given a proper boot, particularly with a world cup coming up

[Biffer]

I just cannot get my head around how somebody can get so upset over a game, that they actively seek out the referee on social media and threaten to rape his wife. These are sick, sick individuals. No matter how invested in a game you can be, it's still just a game and life goes on.

Should be a police matter, every single time.

[sockwithaticket]

I just cannot get my head around how somebody can get so upset over a game, that they actively seek out the referee on social media and threaten to rape his wife. These are sick, sick individuals. No matter how invested in a game you can be, it's still just a game and life goes on.

Should be a police matter, every single time.

Chillingly Barnes has said that a couple of threats were so bad that he has referred them to the police.

[tc27]

I found it an exceptionally tough watch. Not sure where rugby goes from here if Rassie isn't given a proper boot, particularly with a world cup coming up

Totally Agree Rassie needs to be banned from any kind of formal association with rugby and if possible banned from attending games.

[Paddington Bear]

I found it an exceptionally tough watch. Not sure where rugby goes from here if Rassie isn't given a proper boot, particularly with a world cup coming up

Totally Agree Rassie needs to be banned from any kind of formal association with rugby and if possible banned from attending games.

We were talking about this over lunch before Sarries' game on Sunday - I fear for the integrity of a World Cup in which the Saffers need to play (and beat):
Scotland
Ireland
One of France/NZ in the quarters
Semi/Final

It isn't hard to imagine Scotland running them close and being shafted, a close game between Ireland and the boks etc decided by a ref who just doesn't fancy their wife receiving rape threats, and I'm not sure where we go after that.

[LoveOfTheGame]

I found it an exceptionally tough watch. Not sure where rugby goes from here if Rassie isn't given a proper boot, particularly with a world cup coming up

Totally Agree Rassie needs to be banned from any kind of formal association with rugby and if possible banned from attending games.

We were talking about this over lunch before Sarries' game on Sunday - I fear for the integrity of a World Cup in which the Saffers need to play (and beat):
Scotland
Ireland
One of France/NZ in the quarters
Semi/Final

It isn't hard to imagine Scotland running them close and being shafted, a close game between Ireland and the boks etc decided by a ref who just doesn't fancy their wife receiving rape threats, and I'm not sure where we go after that.

Easy there tiger.

[assfly]

It isn't hard to imagine Scotland running them close and being shafted, a close game between Ireland and the boks etc decided by a ref who just doesn't fancy their wife receiving rape threats, and I'm not sure where we go after that.

Jesus Christ. That's your key take-away from all of this?

[JM2K6]

I listened to the podcast, and it's very disturbing.

But just a quick note that he also refers to abuse that other referees have also been receiving, including after the England France game earlier this year.

But I think it's fair to say that Rassie has made the situation worse.

Yeah, ref abuse has been escalating and not all of that is down to Rassie or South Africans, but he has definitely fanned the flames and seems to have cultivated a portion of Bok fans who are convinced the ref has fucked them after every single game.

I don't go on Facebook much, just check my feed for announcements from bands every few days, but I still have the Planet Rugby page displaying things for me and every single article or post that's touched on Rassie, Barnes or refs latelyhas by far the most engagement in terms of comments. Out of morbid curiosity I took a look and it's an absolute avalanche of comments from Saffas insisting one of the following: it's not that bad, it didn't happen/Barnes is making things up, Rassie is a hero, world rugby is out to get the Boks, all refs are terrible and telling them they're shit via social media is a valuable service to rugby, general whataboutism etc.

Yep, it's been noticeable since the Lions tour that Saffa rugby fans have become very angrily vocal on social media and are making a real name for themselves.

[Lobby]

I listened to the podcast, and it's very disturbing.

But just a quick note that he also refers to abuse that other referees have also been receiving, including after the England France game earlier this year.

But I think it's fair to say that Rassie has made the situation worse.

Yeah, ref abuse has been escalating and not all of that is down to Rassie or South Africans, but he has definitely fanned the flames and seems to have cultivated a portion of Bok fans who are convinced the ref has fucked them after every single game.

I don't go on Facebook much, just check my feed for announcements from bands every few days, but I still have the Planet Rugby page displaying things for me and every single article or post that's touched on Rassie, Barnes or refs latelyhas by far the most engagement in terms of comments. Out of morbid curiosity I took a look and it's an absolute avalanche of comments from Saffas insisting one of the following: it's not that bad, it didn't happen/Barnes is making things up, Rassie is a hero, world rugby is out to get the Boks, all refs are terrible and telling them they're shit via social media is a valuable service to rugby, general whataboutism etc.

Yep, it's been noticeable since the Lions tour that Saffa rugby fans have become very angrily vocal on social media and are making a real name for themselves.

While Rassie has upped the ante by encouraging his followers to attack referees on social media, Saffa fans do have form in this area

[Paddington Bear]

It isn't hard to imagine Scotland running them close and being shafted, a close game between Ireland and the boks etc decided by a ref who just doesn't fancy their wife receiving rape threats, and I'm not sure where we go after that.

Jesus Christ. That's your key take-away from all of this?

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

[OomStruisbaai]

It isn't hard to imagine Scotland running them close and being shafted, a close game between Ireland and the boks etc decided by a ref who just doesn't fancy their wife receiving rape threats, and I'm not sure where we go after that.

Jesus Christ. That's your key take-away from all of this?

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

Was Barnes intimidated in 2007 when the Kiwis gave him death threads and Paddy Obrien agreed to him making mistakes?

He should rather grow a spine and told them to fuck off.

[Calculon]

I listened to the podcast, and it's very disturbing.

But just a quick note that he also refers to abuse that other referees have also been receiving, including after the England France game earlier this year.

But I think it's fair to say that Rassie has made the situation worse.

Yeah, ref abuse has been escalating and not all of that is down to Rassie or South Africans, but he has definitely fanned the flames and seems to have cultivated a portion of Bok fans who are convinced the ref has fucked them after every single game.

I don't go on Facebook much, just check my feed for announcements from bands every few days, but I still have the Planet Rugby page displaying things for me and every single article or post that's touched on Rassie, Barnes or refs latelyhas by far the most engagement in terms of comments. Out of morbid curiosity I took a look and it's an absolute avalanche of comments from Saffas insisting one of the following: it's not that bad, it didn't happen/Barnes is making things up, Rassie is a hero, world rugby is out to get the Boks, all refs are terrible and telling them they're shit via social media is a valuable service to rugby, general whataboutism etc.

Yep, it's been noticeable since the Lions tour that Saffa rugby fans have become very angrily vocal on social media and are making a real name for themselves.

Ummm, some fans. I've not become angry on social media, in fact the only social media I'm on is a rugby free zone. I also bear no responsibility for the cunt or cunts on social media who made threats to Barnes's wife.

[Paddington Bear]

Jesus Christ. That's your key take-away from all of this?

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

Was Barnes intimidated in 2007 when the Kiwis gave him death threads and Paddy Obrien agreed to him making mistakes?

He should rather grow a spine and told them to fuck off.

I’d strongly recommend watching the interview. It’s clear he accepts to an extent personal abuse and also accepts he has made mistakes, but draws a line at his wife being threatened with sexual violence and his kids being threatened as well. As any normal person would.

Which is my point. I’ve reffed myself, you accept you’re not going to be everyone’s mate. What’s happened recently, predominantly coming from SA, is a line has been crossed to such an extent that the world’s top ref with 100 internationals under his belt and as you reference having laughed off having his face used as a urinal previously has considered packing it in. The inference I’ve drawn, that the integrity of the RWC is now plausibly threatened, doesn’t seem like a major leap at all.

[OomStruisbaai]

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

Was Barnes intimidated in 2007 when the Kiwis gave him death threads and Paddy Obrien agreed to him making mistakes?

He should rather grow a spine and told them to fuck off.

I’d strongly recommend watching the interview. It’s clear he accepts to an extent personal abuse and also accepts he has made mistakes, but draws a line at his wife being threatened with sexual violence and his kids being threatened as well. As any normal person would.

Which is my point. I’ve reffed myself, you accept you’re not going to be everyone’s mate. What’s happened recently, predominantly coming from SA, is a line has been crossed to such an extent that the world’s top ref with 100 internationals under his belt and as you reference having laughed off having his face used as a urinal previously has considered packing it in. The inference I’ve drawn, that the integrity of the RWC is now plausibly threatened, doesn’t seem like a major leap at all.

Now why do you throw a tantrum? Grow a thick skin Boet.

[dabooldawg]

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

Was Barnes intimidated in 2007 when the Kiwis gave him death threads and Paddy Obrien agreed to him making mistakes?

He should rather grow a spine and told them to fuck off.

I’d strongly recommend watching the interview. It’s clear he accepts to an extent personal abuse and also accepts he has made mistakes, but draws a line at his wife being threatened with sexual violence and his kids being threatened as well. As any normal person would.

Which is my point. I’ve reffed myself, you accept you’re not going to be everyone’s mate. What’s happened recently, predominantly coming from SA, is a line has been crossed to such an extent that the world’s top ref with 100 internationals under his belt and as you reference having laughed off having his face used as a urinal previously has considered packing it in. The inference I’ve drawn, that the integrity of the RWC is now plausibly threatened, doesn’t seem like a major leap at all.

Yes yes oh god yes, the integrity of the world cup... don't stop now I'm so close

[Guy Smiley]

Oom getting nice and defensive here.

[_Os_]

It's not convincing that Rassie has anything to do with it tbh. Rugby is big time in SA, especially in the western half of the country where it's a real national sport (multi class/culture/race, rugby being played to a high standard in clubs/schools/unis), the absolute number of individual people interested in the sport is much larger than anywhere else comparable. Maybe areas of France are similar in terms of raw numbers and interest across all of society, but there's a language barrier there.

In amateur club rugby there's been things like hooligan violence between opposing fans, and teams playing behind fences so fans cannot get onto the pitch to attack players. The sort of thing you would usually associate with European soccer. This is what happens when a sport really is big.

All this is old too. During the 1974 Lions tour Tommy Bedford was attacked by the Lions in the match against Natal, so the Kings Park crowd invaded the pitch and started beating the Lions players, forcing the Lions to retreat. This is the sort of shit that gets passed down from father to son. Nartjies and all the rest have always been thrown at the opposing team and the ref too..

Doing whatever to Rassie isn't going to stop someone in a suburb of CT/Joburg/Durban being a bit of a hooligan online.

[Kawazaki]

This is horrific

[Biffer]

It's not convincing that Rassie has anything to do with it tbh. Rugby is big time in SA, especially in the western half of the country where it's a real national sport (multi class/culture/race, rugby being played to a high standard in clubs/schools/unis), the absolute number of individual people interested in the sport is much larger than anywhere else comparable. Maybe areas of France are similar in terms of raw numbers and interest across all of society, but there's a language barrier there.

In amateur club rugby there's been things like hooligan violence between opposing fans, and teams playing behind fences so fans cannot get onto the pitch to attack players. The sort of thing you would usually associate with European soccer. This is what happens when a sport really is big.

All this is old too. During the 1974 Lions tour Tommy Bedford was attacked by the Lions in the match against Natal, so the Kings Park crowd invaded the pitch and started beating the Lions players, forcing the Lions to retreat. This is the sort of shit that gets passed down from father to son. Nartjies and all the rest have always been thrown at the opposing team and the ref too..

Doing whatever to Rassie isn't going to stop someone in a suburb of CT/Joburg/Durban being a bit of a hooligan online.

So Russia is just a symptom not a cause? Cool, cool.

[Niegs]

Christ, you can tell Barnes is really about to break saying what he says, how he says it and his facial expressions.

Hopefully charges can be brought against the perpetrators.

[Paddington Bear]

Was Barnes intimidated in 2007 when the Kiwis gave him death threads and Paddy Obrien agreed to him making mistakes?

He should rather grow a spine and told them to fuck off.

I’d strongly recommend watching the interview. It’s clear he accepts to an extent personal abuse and also accepts he has made mistakes, but draws a line at his wife being threatened with sexual violence and his kids being threatened as well. As any normal person would.

Which is my point. I’ve reffed myself, you accept you’re not going to be everyone’s mate. What’s happened recently, predominantly coming from SA, is a line has been crossed to such an extent that the world’s top ref with 100 internationals under his belt and as you reference having laughed off having his face used as a urinal previously has considered packing it in. The inference I’ve drawn, that the integrity of the RWC is now plausibly threatened, doesn’t seem like a major leap at all.

Now why do you throw a tantrum? Grow a thick skin Boet.

‘I am very worried about what happens next in a sport where the most experienced ref considers quitting as a result of South African fans threatening his wife with sexual violence’
‘Don’t throw a tantrum’

Your team and fans are a disgrace and we’d all be better off without you. I don’t quite know how we pick up the pieces of the sport you’ve left behind

[_Os_]

It's not convincing that Rassie has anything to do with it tbh. Rugby is big time in SA, especially in the western half of the country where it's a real national sport (multi class/culture/race, rugby being played to a high standard in clubs/schools/unis), the absolute number of individual people interested in the sport is much larger than anywhere else comparable. Maybe areas of France are similar in terms of raw numbers and interest across all of society, but there's a language barrier there.

In amateur club rugby there's been things like hooligan violence between opposing fans, and teams playing behind fences so fans cannot get onto the pitch to attack players. The sort of thing you would usually associate with European soccer. This is what happens when a sport really is big.

All this is old too. During the 1974 Lions tour Tommy Bedford was attacked by the Lions in the match against Natal, so the Kings Park crowd invaded the pitch and started beating the Lions players, forcing the Lions to retreat. This is the sort of shit that gets passed down from father to son. Nartjies and all the rest have always been thrown at the opposing team and the ref too..

Doing whatever to Rassie isn't going to stop someone in a suburb of CT/Joburg/Durban being a bit of a hooligan online.

So Russia is just a symptom not a cause? Cool, cool.

You mean Rassie not Russia?

I'm just posting the facts. When a sport is properly big it will reflect every part of that society and its culture. Which means when there's large urban populations there will always be a hooligan element (I've seen North American fans of their big sports rioting on the news in the past, a literal international incident). The chances of preventing all distasteful comments, are about the same as going to some English League One ground and managing to get the locals to stop chanting "the referee is a wanker" and to stop them throwing coins at the opposition goalkeeper whilst shouting he's a fat bastard.

[sockwithaticket]

Come on Os, you know the issue with Rassie.

Much as Trump emboldened people inside and outside the US to be openly racist, sexist, homophobic etc., Rassie's carry on will do the same for rugby fans and ref criticism. There have always been and will always be those who go too far in their support of their team and criticism of the ref, but their numbers can be kept down if we don't have national head coaches trying to undermine the perceived integrity of officials.

[fishfoodie]

While World Rugby sanctions Rassie, & not South Africa, any sanction is meaningless !

Solution; implement something like a penalty points system drivers have to deal with. Player chat gets too much for a Ref, that turns into 1 or 2 points; coach mouths off after the fact, that can be 6-12 points.

Once the team gets 12 points; the team cops a ban, & they can argue amoungst themselves why they're banned; whether it was their players being mouthy, or their coach being a prick, or their fans behaving like animals; but the bottom line is the team as a whole suffers, & they can't dodge it. I'd also dock the team ranking points, so that consistently shit behaviour results in the Union suffering, & a crap WRC draw.

[Calculon]

While World Rugby sanctions Rassie, & not South Africa, any sanction is meaningless !

Solution; implement something like a penalty points system drivers have to deal with. Player chat gets too much for a Ref, that turns into 1 or 2 points; coach mouths off after the fact, that can be 6-12 points.

Once the team gets 12 points; the team cops a ban, & they can argue amoungst themselves why they're banned; whether it was their players being mouthy, or their coach being a prick, or their fans behaving like animals; but the bottom line is the team as a whole suffers, & they can't dodge it. I'd also dock the team ranking points, so that consistently shit behaviour results in the Union suffering, & a crap WRC draw.

Irish team going to love that

[assfly]

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

As despicable as these fans are, this is not only a South African problem.

Barnes spoke of the abuse other referees have received too.
Remember when Ellis Genge received racist abuse online a couple of years back?
Ben O'Keeffe receiving abuse after Ireland's win over Australia last month.
Pau head coach grabs the arm of the ref last weekend.
Nigel Owens and Gareth Thomas receiving homophobic abuse.

So how you arrive at your deluded conclusion is quite astounding.

[Guy Smiley]

Why would it not be? The referees are clearly being intimidated by South African fans and coaches.

As despicable as these fans are, this is not only a South African problem.

Barnes spoke of the abuse other referees have received too.
Remember when Ellis Genge received racist abuse online a couple of years back?
Ben O'Keeffe receiving abuse after Ireland's win over Australia last month.
Pau head coach grabs the arm of the ref last weekend.
Nigel Owens and Gareth Thomas receiving homophobic abuse.

So how you arrive at your deluded conclusion is quite astounding.

Yeah sure… every country has a senior coaching figure producing long winded and deranged monologues on social media attacking the refs.

It’s not the Saffas. We can all see the conspiracy against you.