KRU opens disciplinary proceedings on players who assaulted referee

Following ugly scenes witnessed during the Championship semifinal clash between Catholic Monks and Shamas Foundation where the centre referee was assaulted, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has condemned the action.

Shamas took matters into their own hands after feeling aggrieved for what they saw as poor officiating, raining blows on the centre referee Saidi Kenya with the assistant referees forced to his aid.

KRU on Monday released a statement condemning the act and revealed that the disciplinary process has been opened with the judgement set to be made public in due course.

“The Kenya Rugby Union strongly condemns the physical attack on centre referee Saidi Kenya during the KRU Championship semifinal between Catholic Monks and Shamas Rugby Foundation on Saturday 19 March 2022.

This attack on the referee by three Shamas Rugby Foundation players goes against the spirit and values of the game. There is no room for the abuse of match officials in Kenyan Rugby.

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In line with World Rugby and KRU laws and regulations, a disciplinary process is underway and the outcome will be communicated once the process has been completed,” read the statement from KRU.

According to the World Rugby handbook, a player can serve a life ban for physically assaulting a referee with the most lenient ban being 24 weeks.

As fate would have it, Shamas went on to lose the game 9-5 as Catholic Monks earned promotion to the Kenya Cup and had double delight by also sealing a place in the final where they will face Mean Machine.

Shamas released a statement on Sunday issuing an apology for the barbaric act adding that the players involved in the incident will have their contracts ripped apart.

“We condemn the despicable actions of indiscipline against the referee or any person. We apologize to the officials affected, to KRU and the rugby fraternity as a whole. What happened yesterday is not part of our culture and the values we stand for as an organization. We distance ourselves from the events and commit to fully cooperate with KRU on the ongoing investigations,"

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"We would like to make it known to the rugby fraternity that we have since started the process of terminating our relationships with the culprits. Shamas commits to review its hiring and evaluation policies for coaches and players and ensure the weaknesses and events like these do not happen again,” read a statement from Shamas.