As all ears will be waiting to find out who walks out the winner at today’s crucial first round inter-club Nippon Paint League rugby match between Kandy SC and Havelocks at Nittawela, all eyes will be focused on the referee after questions were raised over the standard of refereeing in the 2022 season.
Already one club official, army Major Tanesh Dias who is the convener of CH and FC has lashed out at the standard of refereeing in the country.
“There is a perception that our referees are below par, a view that was underlined during several rugby games in the on-going league rugby tournament.
“At the end of the day there were immediate reactions from everyone that they had been robbed of victory. The all-important perception was that justice had been denied,” Major Dias told the Sunday Observer’s sister paper the Daily News on Wednesday.
His remarks reflected the usual seasonal need that high profile key matches be officiated by foreign referees whom the paying rugby followers in the country count as neutral with no affiliated club interests or obligatory connections with controversial club officials.
“Until the public has faith in our own referees, it is perhaps best that overseas referees are got down.
“We are all human, prone to mistakes, but at least the perception of neutrality will be seen,” Major Dias was further quoted as saying.
Kandy SC and Havelocks are the only two teams from among eight clubs in running for the title.