After the crowd disruption which proceeded the Million Pound Game last season, the Rugby Football League have fined both Hull KR and Salford Red Devils.
An RFL statement reads:
Following a comprehensive investigation including liaising with both clubs and the Police, the Rugby Football League have reached Agreed Decisions with Hull Kingston Rovers and Salford Red Devils as a result of the crowd disorder at the end of the Million Pound Game played at KCOM Craven Park on Saturday, October 1, 2016.
Hull KR have accepted a fine of £25,000 which has been imposed on the club for the events surrounding the fixture and failure to use Best Endeavours to prevent the disorder – £20,000 of this fine will be suspended.
Hull KR were found to have breached:
Operational Rule B1:4 – Each Club is responsible for managing its Ground safely when it is open to the public and is required to comply with its legal obligations in this regard and to carry out risk assessments as appropriate;
B1:5 – Each Club is responsible for the actions of its spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters and is required to use its Best Endeavours to take all precautions necessary to ensure that they do not act unlawfully and to prevent spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters from threatening, abusing or assaulting directors, officials, players, spectators, safety staff or any other person or damaging their property or the ground or any property, or invading the pitch;
D1:1 – A Person subject to the Operational Rules shall be guilty of Off Field Misconduct if he/she/it: (a) commits a breach of any of the Operational Rules or RFL Policy; or (b) engages in conduct which is prejudicial to the interests of the Game, brings the Game into disrepute or which is improper conduct.
Salford Red Devils accepted a £10,000 fine with £7,500 suspended and a further suspended £3,000 from the events of the Huddersfield Giants fixture on Monday, March 28, 2016 now being activated.
Salford Red Devils were found to have breached:
Operational Rule B1:5 – Each Club is responsible for the actions of its spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters and is required to use its Best Endeavours to take all precautions necessary to ensure that they do not act unlawfully and to prevent spectators and all persons purporting to be its supporters from threatening, abusing or assaulting directors, officials, players, spectators, safety staff or any other person or damaging their property or the ground or any property, or invading the pitch;
D1:1 – A Person subject to the Operational Rules shall be guilty of Off Field Misconduct if he/she/it: (a) commits a breach of any of the Operational Rules or RFL Policy; or (b) engages in conduct which is prejudicial to the interests of the Game, brings the Game into disrepute or which is improper conduct.
This decision has been ratified by the Senior Operational Rules Tribunal Member HH Peter Charlesworth and is now final and binding. Both clubs were also ordered to pay the costs of the investigation – £2,048.86 each.
