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World Rugby is to investigate the ‘context of events‘ from Belgium vs Spain. Sunday’s RWC Qualifier in Brussels, saw Belgium defeat Spain 18-10 which meant Romania qualified for RWC 2019 as Europe 1.
To see how Romania qualified click here.
For further details on the controversy click here.
The context of events from Brussels were highly controversial. Rugby Europe allocated Vlad Iordachescu, a Romanian, as referee. The two assistant referees were also Romanians. With Romania needing Spain to lose to qualify for RWC 2019 the appointment was never in the best interests of sport.
Having defeated Romania in February Spain were closing in on qualifying for RWC 2019. The day after beating Romania Spain requested, last month, that the officials be reappointed. The request was made on February 19 to Rugby Europe Referee Commissioner Patrick Roben.
Spain Rugby have made it known that Roben denied the request, doing so on the basis that match appointments were made weeks in advance. Yet such an explanation is not satisfactory as the match commissioner was in fact changed, to a Frenchman.
Robin’s decision maintained Vlad Iordachescu as the referee with his assistants also both being Romanian. Calls from Spain for there to be a TMO were also declined by Rugby Europe.
As it stands Spain is to now face Portugal in a play-off with the winner advancing to take-on Samoa. The series against Samoa will be home-and-away. The prize for the winner is the final place in Pool A of RWC 2019, a group containing Ireland, Japan, Romania and Scotland.
Potential action could see the match replayed altogether.
Former Namibia captain Jacques Burger tweeted that:
“They (Spain) deserve the best officiating like any Tier 1 country would get. Only fair. So many times in the past I’ve played WC qualifiers with inexperienced officials”.
Also voicing his opinion was former All Black Neemia Tialata. He noted:
“From what I saw it’s heart breaking to see a great game of rugby being dominated by the match officials (all 3 Romanian refs) and one sided. Not to take anything away from Belgium win today but some of todays officiating was terrible! It’s the pinacle to be part of a Rugby World Cup tournament. Players put their bodies and lives on the line,all we ask is for the game to be officiated fairly.”
World Rugby’s twitter account was also active, noting that while it “does not appoint match officials for the Rugby Europe Championship” it is in contact with them “to understand the context of events relating to the Belgium v Spain match”.
Rugby Europe, who is led by a Romanian, Octavian Morariu, made a statement demonstrating the match official selections procedures. “Referees’ appointments for the Rugby Europe Championship have been made ahead of the competition by an independent and neutral skilled committee.”
Fan reaction overwhelmingly matches the views shared of Burger and Tiatala. The following video was made by a referee who was shocked by the officiating of Vlad Iordachescu and the allowing of Romanians to officiate the match.
