HERE at The Register we like to keep sport on the back pages, where it usually belongs. Unfortunately, in recent days it has crept forward in the paper for all the wrong reasons.
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Today, it’s on the front page because of some appalling behaviour on the field and, even worse, off it.
While we accept rugby league is a tough contact sport, we do not accept that brawling on the field and off it in any way can be justified under any circumstances.
We agree with Group 7 general manager Jim McAuliffe, who says there is no place for alcohol, abuse and violence at what are supposed to family friendly matches.
We await Thursday’s hearings with interest to see who is held responsible and what steps will be taken to see that such an occurrence does not happen again.
There is no doubt children should be encouraged to play sport, particularly during the cold winter months when the temptation sit in front of screens is hard to resist.
But witnessing the kind of brawls that took place on Sunday is not likely to sit well with parents who are deciding which code their youngsters should play. In the long run, the game will suffer as people are deterred from getting involved.
People who play sports are role models. Their skills on the field should make them heroes, not their capacity for violence, no matter what insult or sledging is sent their way. Similarly, the spectators who watch the matches should not let their passions override commonsense.
When punches are thrown on the sidelines, abuse hurled at other supporters and referees, bottles lobbed, as we saw recently at the national level, football matches become events to avoid.
The message that thuggish behaviour sends hurts everyone in the community.