The International Rugby Board (IRB) has backed Wayne Barnes, who refereed the France-New Zealand World Cup quarterfinal, following reports that he had received death threats.
The Englishman yellow-carded All Black centre Luke McAlister at a crucial moment of the game and also missed a forward pass in the move that brought France the match-winning try in their 20-18 triumph.
The defeat plunged rugby-mad New Zealanders into despair as their much-vaunted side once again failed to go all the way in the World Cup.
Barnes reportedly received personal abuse and even death threats on internet sites bringing a strong response from IRB referees’ manager Paddy O’Brien, himself a New Zealander.
“I think it’s a disgrace and people have to grow up,” O’Brien told BBC Radio 5live.
“New Zealand losing that game was not all about the forward pass. The pass was forward but that’s rugby refereeing.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing but you can’t turn back the clock.
“I’m a very proud Kiwi and I wear my heart on my sleeve when the All Blacks are playing, but it doesn’t change my judgement.
“Sport is about winning and losing and New Zealand lost, let’s get on with life.
“It’s a sad reflection and I’d like to say that it’s not all New Zealand people.”
The 28-year-old Barnes will not take charge of any other World Cup games as he was not included in the lists of officials for the two semifinals, the final and the third place play-off.
But O’Brien said that had nothing to do with his performance in the Cardiff quarterfinal.
“I’ve spoken to Wayne personally to congratulate him on a very fine performance,” he said.
“We spoke about the forward pass but at the end of the day he can’t guess.
“It’s a game played by humans and refereed by humans. We try to get it accurate if we can and Barnes is the brightest star we have on our books.” — AFP