NRL 2020: Peter V’landys slams referees body over legal action threat

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has hit back at the PRLMO after a lodging a dispute with the Fair Work Commission over the NRL’s new one-referee system.

Peter Vlandys has stood behind his controversial decision. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

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ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has launched a stinging attack on the Professional Match Officials body amid threats of legal action over the one-referee system, declaring: “Bring it on”.

PRLMO chairman Silvio Del Vecchio stunned the NRL by flagging the prospect of suing the governing body for axing the two-referees model, revealing he had lodged a Dispute Notice today with the Fair Work Commission.

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Peter Vlandys has stood behind his controversial decision. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

But V’landys has come out swinging, blasting suggestions the ARLC didn’t consider the views of the PRLMO in its refereeing shake-up and warning Del Vecchio he is up for a legal fight.

“If he wants to take legal action, I say bring it on,” V’landys told News Corp.

“I don’t know what this bloke (Del Vecchio) is going on about.

“For a start, we haven’t even seen a Dispute Notice from his organisation.

“In his own press release, he says there has been no consultation yet.

“That’s rubbish. I took his views to the Commission last night.

“His submission was discussed at length by the board.

“Isn’t that consultation? Their views were absolutely considered and I personally took them to the Commission, so Silvio’s views were taken into consideration during the decision-making process.

“Consultation means we take your views and consider them.

“It doesn’t mean we will do what you tell us to do.”

Will one referee make a difference? Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

The PRLMO press release said in part: “The PRLMO represents the vast majority of NRL match officials, both full-time and casuals. It is their understanding that the NRL do not have the option to change the officiating model during the term of the Agreement, which extends to the end of 2022.

“It is in the best interests of the safety of the players, and the integrity of the game itself.”

But V’landys argued the ARL Commission went above and beyond to hear the grievances of the PRLMO.

“The consultation in the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) he is referring to states that we must do it after a decision is made, not before,” V’landys said.

“So what I am saying is we afforded Silvio and his body more than what we had to.

“We took his views on board before AND after the decision. Graham Annesley (NRL head-of-football) spent an hour with the referees this morning.

“Silvio is being confrontational when he doesn’t need to be.

“They don’t have a leg to stand on legally under the CBA.”