Manager of Soyaux-Angoulême, winner of his three away matches since the start of the Pro D2 season, Alexandre Ruiz is regularly targeted by the opposing public. And his status as a former referee doesn’t help matters as the atmosphere around the pitches becomes more and more aggressive. He gives explanations.
The best thing is not to answer even if it’s never very simple. »
Last Friday in Valencia, referee David Beun was attacked by a spectator. Is this particularly shocking for you as a former referee?
Alexandre Ruiz. Yes and it is very dangerous for our sport and its values. We realize that the longer things go, the more these kinds of situations happen again from match to match.
You are playing your second season on the bench of the SA XV. Do you have the feeling of being particularly targeted by the public during away matches?
Yes, a lot, and there is confusion with my old job even though it has been three and a half years since I last refereed. If some may have a history with me, supporters of clubs that I have refereed, they tend to make amalgamations that are a bit simple and quick.
Former referee and coach, is this the perfect combo to be attacked away from home?
That’s it, whereas, it seems to me, there are always fifteen players against fifteen players on the pitch and the match is there, not elsewhere. We noticed this again in Dax (last Friday) where there were a few names of birds. The best thing is not to answer even if it’s never very simple. You have to stay in the game, that’s the most important thing.
Do you feel like things are getting worse season after season?
Yes. First of all I think it’s a societal problem. There is also the influence of social networks which doesn’t help matters. People spit their venom hidden behind a nickname and it’s really very easy.
There is also a desire, it seems to me, on the part of certain clubs to fill stadiums for economic reasons, which attracts people who are not initially passionate about rugby and who confuse its values with those of other sports.
We have the impression that for these people the stadium is not a place of celebration but a place to let off steam.
So. It’s the frustration of the week that is spat out on Friday at the edge of the field. But the guy who comes with his child, what message is he sending, what values of respect is he transmitting? The guys come to let off steam even though Friday is a time when we should meet the supporters and not the average spectator.
We also have the feeling that we are adding video screens to explain things and that it is only getting worse.
There should be better communication from clubs and managers to explain the meaning of video refereeing. We must leave the referees in a certain comfort so that they make the best decisions. It’s not by shouting and doing anything to prevent them from making a decision that things will get better.
I find these behaviors extremely polluting, even if they remain minimal. It’s 1 to 2% of people who come to the stadium, but 1 to 2% is more than yesterday. Today, we need supporters who encourage their team and not spectators who come to cause trouble without respecting the strong values of our sport.
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