Gazemous wrote:
I'll get in before the thread is locked and you get a ban
- what does TM have to clarify? What the hidden agenda is?
Yes and he hasn't.
Gazemous wrote:
I think it's obvious to all that he is suggesting the RFL want to punish small teams more severely for common offences so as to give them an excuse to eject those clubs from SL at a later date.
There's never been any supporting evidence to sustain that view, if that was his angle.
Gazemous wrote:
It's obviously going to cause an uproar if they kick any club out, they need all the justification they can muster to quell the press questions (seeing as relegating a club that doesn't finish in the bottom relegation places is probably unique to RL in this country).
They will only "kick a club out" if they fail to meet the very clear criteria that they are both aware of as a member club and have agreed to abide to.
Gazemous wrote:
Why hasn't he clarified this? Because it's obvious to all, but outwardly saying that would probably land him with a hefty fine.
Then it's a foundationaless, futile offering.
Gazemous wrote:
- I don't believe it has been overly poor. I don't think any other club would have done anything different to what Cas did. I don't think the club expected the fine to be severe as they followed RFL protocol. There are no guidelines for this specific type of chanting because no type of fan chanting has seen a club punished at any point in RFL history (including when racist chanting was rife on the terraces). There was no precedent for the punishment, and no precedent for what the club should do after the event.
Elements of truth but similarly but that they are effectively setting a precedent in in response shouldn't preclude that very response being effective and acknowledging. I also made it clear the fine was originally harsh.
Gazemous wrote:
It is only since the club was told how seriously the RFL would punish them that they've taken further action. How many people have Leeds banned since their fans abused James Graham? How many fans get banned every week for abusing officials? How many fans of other clubs have been banned for abusing Gareth Thomas - which has happened at games after the Cas-Crusaders one? Absolutely none.
Agreed. Wasn't my contention.
Gazemous wrote:
With hindsight the club could have done more,
That's my very point.
Gazemous wrote:
Cas were fined for not controlling their fans and failing to take steps to prevent it. The quoted reason was, "the club failed to take its best endeavours to prevent or stop any chanting."
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As I've stated, quite what the club were supposed to do at the time to negate the incident is a mystery only the RFL solve. The key point remains the subsequent reaction to the incident and the fine and the "what me guv" answer. Crisis media work isn't difficult, it just takes a little clarity of thought.
The fact also remains that the RFL's fine was largely based on who funds them. Again, nobody seems to grasp this and instead plays the siege mentality sketch when this is actually far from the case.
