Legal action has been launched in several countries for acts of cyberharassment against referees who officiated during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, World Rugby announced this Wednesday, January 31.
“Legal proceedings have been undertaken in Australia, and others are underway in various jurisdictions” thanks to a reporting service set up during the World Cup in France, explained the international rugby body in a press release.
Through a partnership with Signify Group, a company that uses AI to protect individuals from online abuse, “more than 900 accounts were monitored during the tournament, and more than 1,600 abusive accounts were reported to the platforms , resulting in the removal of 90% of the most serious content,” World Rugby said.
During the World Cup in France, referees were the target of 49% of the abuse recorded and they and their families were also victims of abuse via private direct messages, leading to the intervention of law enforcement, according to the press release.
A third of online insults directed at Wayne Barnes
“The rise of online hatred in society and sport is worrying and completely unacceptable and we will continue to do everything possible to protect and support our international match officials and their families by bringing attackers to justice,” added the Chief Executive of World Rugby, Alan Gilpin.
The body has also decided to extend its partnership with Signify Group “to protect international match officials operating during men’s and women’s competitions in 2024”.
“We hope that the legal action will send a clear message that such behavior is not tolerated,” the leader added.
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“Those who harass or threaten players, match officials or their families must understand that their actions will have consequences,” underlined referee Wayne Barnes, himself a victim of cyberharassment after officiating during the 2023 World Cup final. won by South Africa against New Zealand (12-11).
The Englishman announced his retirement a few days after the end of the World Cup.
“This behavior simply has no place in rugby, in sport or in society,” added the man who suffered a third of the online insults recorded during the World Cup.