No place in sport for disrespectful crowds

Behaviour after Wallabies Argentina rugby game completely unacceptable.

THE scenes that followed Australia's rugby union loss to Argentina last weekend were unacceptable.

Completely unacceptable.

Every sports fan has questioned the athletic ability of players in the heat of the moment.

What that fan did at the Gold Coast was something completely different though.

Pushing his way to the front of a crowd of fans to verbally abuse Wallabies players post-match was nothing short of disgusting.

We saw the Wallabies obviously gutted by their first loss to the Pumas in 35 years on home soil - yet they still took the time to sign autographs and speak to fans post-game.

Then we had a goose in the crowd, I want to use a stronger word but let's stick with goose, resplendent in his crisp Wallabies jersey thinking he has a right to speak his mind.

No fan has a right to speak to a player like that no matter how much they paid for a ticket or how poor they deemed the performance to be.

I for one can't stand fans booing their team let alone this type of behaviour.

The actions of Wallabies flanker Lukhan Tui are no less acceptable either.

I understand the tragic circumstances surrounding his reaction - the death of his step-father earlier in the week and his sister allegedly being pushed over by the fan - but he needed to show a lot more restraint.

Rugby Australia needs to do better also.

Part of the reason this happened was because the fan pushed his way into an area where Tui's family was seated.

The immediate family of players should have special reserved seating - arranged by Rugby Australia.

Further more they, Rugby Australia, should be pursuing action against the fan even if Tui doesn't want to.

Lastly we as fans should do better - back your side, don't boo them.

Originally published as No place in sport for disrespectful crowds