Sat 16 Jan 2016 | 01:27
Clermont flanker Viktor Kolelishvili shoves referee Wayne Barnes

26
Comments

Clermont flanker Viktor Kolelishvili can count himself lucky after receiving just a warning for pushing referee Wayne Barnes in last night's 21-13 Champions Cup loss to the Ospreys. The Georgian shoved Barnes out of the way and was only spoken to and penalised.

Barnes handled it well, albeit leniently, managing to remain calm and refrain from carding the player. Some have felt the flanker's actions required a far sterner punishment though, so there is a chance that he will have to face up to a disciplinary hearing in the not too distant future.

Abrasive flanker Kolelishvili was sent off for his part in a massive brawl between Georgia and Canada in 2013 however. On that occasion he high tackled a player then threw some punches.

There have been other incidents involved referees over the years though. In 2008 Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi casually pushed a referee who was in his way, while in 2009 Brian Mujati got himself in a bit of trouble for pushing referee Nigel Owens.

Two years ago massive prop Ben Tameifuna was suspended for 5 weeks after he pushed former flyhalf and now referee, Glen Jackson.

In 2013 Barnes red carded Northampton Saints' Dylan Hartley after the hooker swore at the referee during the Aviva Premiership final. Hartley was banned for 11 weeks, with the incident costing him a place on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

Kolelishvili's shove was clearly a moment off ill judgement, but at the same time players simply cannot place their hands on the referees at any stage of a match. When reviewing the incident, the officials will more than likely not take the same calm approach that Barnes did.

26 Comments

  • stroudos
    5:18 PM 25/01/2016

    What do you mean?
    Tameifuna is a Kiwi and plays in New Zealand.
    Kolelishvili is a Georgian representing a French team in this case against a team from the UK.

    Seems pretty consistent to me.

  • stroudos
    4:57 PM 25/01/2016

    This is a very good point.

  • drg
    7:14 PM 20/01/2016

    I don't think anyone is suggesting Barnes was molested or anything, however shoving someone is abusing them.. So I can see how the laws have been adjusted or applied to this case, to accommodate Koleshvillis actions...

  • eddie-g
    6:23 PM 20/01/2016

    "players simply cannot place their hands on the referees at any stage of a match"

    I know what you mean, but there are plenty of us who have to "move" a referee out of a defensive channel. There are ways to do it, with the minimum of force and a polite "excuse me, sir", and no-one minds. This though is ridiculous - it's like he's trying to put Barnes on the ground.

    But anyway, I give Barnes a lot of credit here. Players and refs generally get along fine, there's a healthy mutual respect, and Barnes by reacting how he did ensured he didn't create a nasty flashpoint because of an idiot. It's for the ERC to sort out punishment, and I'm glad it was a hefty one. The mutual respect is a good thing we have in our game, be a great shame if we lost it.

  • colombes
    10:40 AM 20/01/2016

    Seems that the ban entrance for this kind of offenses was recently increased...
    Koleshvili firstly received 24 weeks, divided by 2 for his excuses, mitigating factors, and then +2 weeks for discipline record.

    ERC bans: maths and ethic

  • drg
    8:42 AM 20/01/2016

    It was 2 years ago mind you.... Perhaps there is some message that they're trying to trickle down... Yes referees can be in the way, but the increase in shoving them is not acceptable...

  • kadova
    11:44 PM 19/01/2016

    Was it from the same commission ? I do not have time to watch the matches at the moment.

  • drg
    10:01 PM 19/01/2016

    Banned for 14 weeks...

  • drg
    9:41 AM 19/01/2016

    If anyone is still viewing this.. Do you reckon each incident should automatically be dealt with off field, however the referee is given free reign to deal with it on field?

    For instance it appears Barnes felt there was no direct malice to him on account of his form in the game... So it wasn't a "you bad referee - shove" type of thing... However we all agree it was the wrong way to go about it. So talk to on field, ban off field? Whereas if Barnes penalised at a breakdown and then got a shove for the decision, we'd all 100% agree that it shows massive dissent to the decision... So red + ban...

    Idk, it's ugly, but I can't help think Barnes made the best call for him, the players, the individual game, and perhaps the sport...

  • mozz87
    8:34 AM 19/01/2016

    As with the Schalk Brits shoulder charge, Barnes has yet again proven he's much tougher than he looks, he barely moved when Kolelishvili shoved him. Barnes for England No.7 shirt? He'd be immovable at the breakdown...

  • drg
    12:41 AM 19/01/2016

    It's an unfortunate part of the game... The referee positions himself or herself in the best position to view the goings on of the game, unfortunately that tends to be smack bang in the middle of the action, or in the middle of next phases action... Only way this can ever be removed is if the referee gets put on the same system that the overhead cable camera is on so he can swoop around to his/her hearts content.....

  • danknapp
    2:08 PM 18/01/2016

    Short ban to send a message. There are all sorts of things he could have done instead, like shout and gesture. It was a completely bizarre way to behave. I would imagine Barnes didn't send him off or card him because he couldn't have been completely sure that he hadn't missed something. Personally I'd like to see him get a ban.

  • katman
    7:32 AM 18/01/2016

    At least he used his arms.

  • guy
    6:42 AM 18/01/2016

    Well, let's agree to disagree. Barnes did the complete opposite of Kolelishvili: stop play, stay calm, explain why he was going to do. He had every right to be furious but he stayed calm. In similar incidents no cards were issued either and in both cases players were punished accordingly afterwards. I beieve that message will trickle down to grassroot level too.

  • colombes
    10:06 PM 17/01/2016

    I won't debate if it was yellow, red or pink card.
    It was just a stupid and unnecessary shove. He penalised his team with this 3 pts penalty, before many others dubious decisions vs Clermont during the rest of the game.

    You don't have to like the ref, but trying to be liked by the ref is part of the job.
    So yes, stupid, really

  • heavyhooker
    8:03 PM 17/01/2016

    Should have been a red card since the ball was not even out. Plus a multi week ban.

  • browner
    4:24 PM 17/01/2016

    I disagree completely. We have a TV audience that cascades to grassroots - everyone has now seen the player unnecessarily manhandle an official and stay on the pitch ! wtf. ........Wayne has done ALL grassroots referees a dis-service with his overly mild handling.

    Send the strongest message possible #OfficialsAreSacrosanct

  • welshosprey
    11:17 AM 17/01/2016

    Kolelishvili was mental all game until he got taken off. He gave away so many penalties and tried fighting AWJ at one point too. I thought Barnes handled it well but you've gotta say, something like that deserves a card.
    Just seemed so unnecessary when all he needed to do was wave his arms or shout.

  • drg
    11:00 AM 17/01/2016

    Can't really make up my mind, I think red for ALL the above reasons, but I can't help think yellow or penalty instead.

    I suppose I was happy for the Hartley red for swearing at Barnes, so perhaps I should be expected to support a red here.

    The push was massively over the top, could a gentle guidance have worked better? Did shoving Barnes actually achieve the space wanted?!?

    Wasn't Mujatis defence team using the argument that the guy had a knock to the head and therefore was in a daze?

    As for non English speaking mentioned above, is that really an excuse? Other than frustration that perhaps Barnes didn't understand the players native tongue, pushing a referee crosses all language barriers no?

  • kalaghan
    10:16 AM 17/01/2016

    Yellow, my bad!

  • guy
    10:15 AM 17/01/2016

    Barnes handled that extremely well. Player should be banned though. Can't have that sort of crap in our game.

  • facepalm
    10:32 PM 16/01/2016

    Obviously not condoning this - but maybe worth considering if he doesn't speak English?

  • jimmy23
    6:03 PM 16/01/2016

    I so wished Wayne Barnes just went;

    "YOU WOT MATE?!"

  • feddderico
    5:05 PM 16/01/2016

    Pathetic

  • terau
    4:43 PM 16/01/2016

    deliberate,,,,,ie,

  • terau
    4:41 PM 16/01/2016

    at "LEAST" 5 weeks if dliberate