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       #Post#: 10010--------------------------------------------------
       Tom Foley retires from international rugby because of abuse foll
       owing Rugby World Cup final
       By: Watto Date: December 5, 2023, 1:13 am
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       From The Telegraph:
       Tom Foley, the television match official for this year’s World
       Cup final, is the latest figure to walk away from international
       rugby citing “online abuse”.
       The news comes after both the referee Wayne Barnes retired and
       England captain Owen Farrell stepped back from international
       duty for the same reasons.
       Foley, who will continue officiating at Premiership and European
       level, revealed that he and his family had received death
       threats in the wake of the Springboks’ victory over the All
       Blacks, with abusers even emailing the school of his young
       children, after ruling out Aaron Smith’s second-half try because
       of an Ardie Savea knock-on three phases beforehand. Technically,
       other than foul play, the TMO can only adjudicate on incidents
       which occur within two phases of a try being scored – even
       though Savea’s knock-on met the “clear and obvious” threshold.
       “Having reached the pinnacle in officiating at the Rugby World
       Cup final, now feels the right time to take a break from the
       international game,” Foley said in a statement. “Over the course
       of 13 years, I have been fortunate to officiate alongside many
       dedicated professionals and be involved in some of the greatest
       games in international rugby.
       “However, the pressure and scrutiny I came under after the World
       Cup final, along with a torrent of criticism and abuse online,
       has helped to reaffirm that this is the right decision for me at
       this point in my life. While it’s a privilege to be at the heart
       of some of the sport’s most iconic moments, the increasing
       levels of vitriol, when the demands and expectations are so
       high, have led me to this moment.
       “Working as an international match official takes you away from
       home for extended periods, and I am looking forward to spending
       more time at home with my young children. I am very grateful to
       my family for their support during my career; without them none
       of it would have been possible.”
       Foley had been selected for the decider as part of an
       all-English officiating team of Barnes as referee and Karl
       Dickson and Matthew Carley as assistants after impressing in the
       quarter-final between Ireland and New Zealand.
       Having returned to referee in the Premiership in recent weeks,
       Foley has overseen matches between Gloucester and Leicester
       Tigers and Bath and Exeter Chiefs. Over the coming fortnight, he
       will act as TMO in the Champions Cup for Munster’s meeting with
       Bayonne and Ulster’s game against Racing 92.
       Earlier this month, Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed that
       approximately 200 incidents of social-media abuse across seven
       different countries were identified during the recent World Cup
       in France, with World Rugby set to become the first sports
       governing body to take action against those responsible – with
       prosecutions possible.
       The governing body is due to publish its findings this month, as
       well as the referee appointments for the upcoming Six Nations.
       #Post#: 10011--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Tom Foley retires from international rugby because of abuse 
       following Rugby World Cup final
       By: WhiteRose Date: December 5, 2023, 2:10 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       This is worrying trend in all sports. Match officials in all
       sports are subjected to unacceptable abuse on-field, witness the
       disgusting behaviour of the Manchester City players recently,
       online and from the terraces.
       Closer to home, a small minority of the Titan’s followers should
       consider their interactions with the match officials, without
       whom there would be no rugby. Not only is it disrespectful but
       must influence their decision making towards the Titans.
       The “Rugby Community” has always taken the moral high ground
       regarding respect towards match officials, players and other
       spectators. I sincerely hope we can continue to embrace this
       tradition.
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