New Zealand referee Paddy O’Brien holds no fears for his safety as he prepares to control the Tri-Nations rugby test between South Africa and Australia this weekend.
O’Brien will officiate in the 2002 Tri-Nations finale in Johannesburg this Saturday with security a primary concern after Irish referee David McHugh had his shoulder dislocated when he was grappled to the ground by a spectator in Durban on Saturday.
Pieter van Zyl (43) was on Sunday granted bail after being charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and trespassing.
Van Zyl evaded 419 security officials to launch his assault on McHugh, who was forced to leave the field shortly after halftime in a test the All Blacks won 30-23 over the Springboks.
O’Brien said it was important not to get too carried away with what he described as an isolated incident.
”There have been four (instances of spectators running on to the field in Super 12 and Tri-Nations matches in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia) in the past 12 months so it is a concern.
”(But) I’m not worried at all. I have a lot of faith in the South African Rugby Union and the actions they will take.
”I have other worries; to make sure I referee well.
”I am very comfortable with the security that will be put in place for this game,” he told TVNZ’s Holmes programme tonight.
Paul Honiss, another leading New Zealand referee, said he hoped what happened in Durban would be treated as an isolated incident.
”Obviously, the South Africans are completely embarrassed by the whole affair.
”I’d go as far to say I don’t think a New Zealander would ever think of doing something as stupid as what occurred on the weekend.
”I just hope we don’t (in future) have the exterior of the field completely bombarded by security people.
”People are there, they’ve paid good money, they want to watch the game without having their view interrupted.
”I just hope we don’t get too overawed by the whole thing,” Honiss said.
”We talk of 420 (security people) being at King’s Park in Durban at the weekend; that’s a lot of people to try to secure a field. If these people are so determined to get on to the paddock, in some cases you are just not going to be able to avoid it.”
Meanwhile, WestpacTrust Stadium management in Wellington want the ability to impose four-figure fines, possibly as much as $5 000, on spectators who misbehave.
Van Zyl’s attack on McHugh may also encourage a national standard for fines in New Zealand sports grounds, WestpacTrust chief executive David Gray said on Monday.
Gray said the stadium management had started talks with Wellington City Council over introducing a by-law to allow such fines at the Wellington venue.
It also was possible the International Rugby Board and New Zealand Rugby Football Union might seek to apply national standards on stadiums, Gray said.
The fines would have to be ”substantial” for there to be a deterrent element.
Gray believed that for an offence such as running on to the pitch a figure in the region of $5 000 would be in order.
Throwing objects on to the field should also attract a similar fine, he said.
”We don’t consider we have a problem with either of those. There have been some incidents in the past, but they were dealt with. But you do need to have additional incentives for people who break the rules.”
Intoxicated people were not admitted to the stadium. However, if spectators were found to be drunk they would be evicted or arrested.
In February about 20 people were arrested during an
international rugby sevens tournament for offences at the stadium, including throwing bottles, disorderly behaviour and smoking cannabis.
In August 2000, 15 plastic bottles were thrown at the referee during a Bledisloe Cup rugby test.
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said it had sought a legal opinion after the February incidents at the sevens tournament.
”The legal opinion said there was no current by-law under which the council could take action. It was considered that police powers were sufficient to deal with the problems.”
Council was willing to investigate the by-law issue further if it were considered necessary, he said. – Sapa-NZPA