Ce que les arbitres pensent de Whistleblowers
Depuis 22 ans qu’il est arbitre sur toutes les scènes du monde, le Français Mathieu Raynal a brillé sur tous les terrains jusqu’à être élu meilleur arbitre de Top 14 en 2022. Deux Coupes du Monde de Rugby (2019 et 2023), sept campagnes du Six Nations (2016-2023), cinq Rugby Championship…
Le sifflet est plus qu’une passion et c’est avec une grande curiosité qu’il a eu l’occasion de voir en avant-première le film évènement Whistleblowers consacré aux arbitres de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 à l’occasion d’un rassemblement de tous les officiels de match fin janvier à Londres. Le film produit par World Rugby Studios est diffusé gratuitement sur la plate-forme de streaming RugbyPass TV à partir du 1er février.
« C’est compliqué parce qu’ils ont choisi de traiter sous l’angle d’un environnement un peu hostile avec la pression des réseaux sociaux qui pèsent sur les arbitres, la pression des enjeux… », confie-t-il à RugbyPass.
Un arbitre, c’est 90% de décisions justes
« C’est un choix éditorial qu’ils ont fait, mais il n’y a pas que ça dans l’arbitrage. Il y a aussi de très bons moments que l’on passe ensemble. Mais c’est vrai que si on peut espérer que les gens prennent conscience aussi de la difficulté parfois pour un seul homme de faire face à ça et qu’ils prennent conscience que notre travail est certes compliqué, mais qu’on a quand même 90% en moyenne de bonnes décisions. Donc j’aimerais qu’ils voient aussi les 90% de bonnes décisions et pas constamment les 10% d’erreurs qu’on peut faire.
« Si on était un buteur dans une équipe, et qu’on avait 90% de réussite, je pense que n’importe quelle équipe au monde souhaiterait avoir un buteur qui a 90% de réussite. »
Raynal demande d’aller encore plus loin
Selon lui, l’initiative de montrer l’envers du décor pour les arbitres est une excellente chose et il faudrait aller plus loin.
« Je suis pour que nous, les arbitres, on s’ouvre beaucoup plus, pour qu’on communique sur nos procédures, qu’on communique sur les observables qu’on utilise pour arbitrer, qu’on s’ouvre pour montrer quelle est la réalité de notre métier parce que moi j’aime profondément mon métier », assure l’ancien prof d’EPS.
« C’est un métier fantastique et j’aimerais que les gens partagent et voient tous ses bons côtés. C’est déjà un premier pas, ce documentaire. J’espère qu’il en appellera d’autres et qu’à l’avenir, que ce soit World Rugby ou dans nos pays respectifs, on ouvrira plus l’arbitrage pour le faire découvrir et connaître au grand public. »
Dickson a été des deux côtés du sifflet
Son collègue Karl Dickson, qui a la particularité d’avoir été joueur et arbitre de haut niveau, ne dit pas autre chose. L’ancien demi de mêlée des Harlequins n’est pas le seul arbitre à avoir été de l’autre côté du sifflet – son collègue de la Coupe du Monde Nic Berry a également joué pour les Reds, le Racing 92 et les Wasps. Mais il admet qu’en tant que joueur, il n’avait aucune idée de ce que vivent les arbitres.
« En tant que joueur, en tant que numéro 9, vous essayez évidemment d’arbitrer le rugby que vous pensez regarder », a expliqué l’arbitre lors de la première du documentaire à Londres.
« Mais vous n’avez aucune idée de ce que vivent les vrais arbitres, de leur mode de vie, de ce qui se passe en coulisses, en particulier au niveau professionnel. »
Un regard sans concession, voire dérangeant
Whistleblowers offre un regard sans précédent sur ce que vivent les officiels de match lors d’une Coupe du monde – les hauts et les bas du travail, et les rigueurs du métier d’arbitre d’élite.
« Mais je pense aussi que le film montre à quel point nous aimons le rugby. Nous aimons le rugby. Nous n’en ferions pas partie si ce n’était pas le cas. Je pense que le film montre, bien sûr, les aspects négatifs de la situation, mais aussi l’amour que nous avons les uns pour les autres et pour le rugby. Je pense qu’ils dépeignent cela très bien », assure Dickson, l’arbitre du France-Irlande en ouverture du Tournoi des Six nations 2024.
Ce côté négatif, ce sont les abus – harcèlement, menaces… – dont sont victimes les officiels des matchs, qui sont mis à nu dans cette production sans concession.
Le responsable du marketing et du contenu chez World Rugby, James Rothwell, a admis qu’ils ne s’étaient pas lancés dans ce projet dans le but de faire un film sur les abus des réseaux sociaux, mais a déclaré qu’il était « très clair qu’il y avait une histoire différente à raconter ».
L’expérience permet de se protéger
Que ce soit dans les gradins ou sur Internet, Karl Dickson explique que les arbitres tentent de filtrer les insultes qu’ils reçoivent, mais qu’ils ne réussissent pas toujours. Selon lui, seule l’expérience permet à un officiel de match de mettre de côté ces interférences.
« Il est impossible de tout bloquer complètement. Que ce soit dans le stade avec les supporters ou à proximité des joueurs, on ressent cette pression et on l’entend », dit-il. « Cependant, en s’appuyant sur l’expérience accumulée, on essaie de passer outre et de prendre des décisions pour le bien du rugby ou celles que l’on estime justes pour l’équipe avant tout. Mais on ne peut jamais vraiment l’ignorer.
« Il y aura toujours des moments où nous jetterons un œil en ligne. Il est évident que les fans et d’autres personnes expriment leurs opinions, et ça nous saute aux yeux, on le voit, on l’entend. On ne pourra jamais s’en débarrasser complètement, mais si on peut sensibiliser les gens au fait que c’est un véritable problème dans le rugby, ça pourrait dissuader une, deux ou trois personnes de publier quelque chose, pour favoriser ainsi des commentaires plus positifs. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Should not even be in the thought to bring Barrett back,the team is going well and remember 2 season ago when the blues were going well & got out thought & out played in the final all Barrett did was needlessly kick away posession again and again, pass to players in worse positions as to avoid contact and for the Blues and AB proved costly in crucial games.
1 Go to commentsBarbarians will be preparing for fiji starting end of this week but fiji will be preparing only 1 week b4 the game…..so unfair
1 Go to commentsI believe it was the Wallaby Nick White who opened the floodgates - earning his team a yellow card against SA and getting Faf binned for 10. Nick White. The original soft pr1ck, diving git. Owen Farrell is growing on me.
2 Go to commentsTo be honest this result was not that seismic as shock, Canada are a very good team and very few teams fear the Black Ferns anymore. The rankings give a good picture, the top four ranked teams are the top four teams in women’s rugby with England ahead the other three can exchange places at any given time. Despite the USA result I still think Australia are ahead of the rest. WXV will show how big the gap is between nations.
9 Go to commentsFarrell playing in France next season better get use to play acting .
3 Go to commentsNot sure I see the magic. Solid flanker but the aggression and lack of bending at the hips leads to boo boos
5 Go to comments100%. Thank you, Andy.
2 Go to commentsFabulous player. Don’t know if people outside of Ireland appreciate his vision and genius. I wish he got more time with the National team. We will never know how high he could have soared. Super season to end with!
1 Go to commentsIf he's playing well enough to be in the top 2 or 3 open sides, then pick him. Essentially nothing else should come into it.
1 Go to commentsBe really surprised if Beale is considered for a WB squad, let alone a match day 23. Feel there are too many younger players in all positions in the backline now who should be developed. These upcoming games this year should be used to develop the players of the future, for building towards next RWC.
2 Go to commentsI think this all came from Fozzie immediately anointing Cane as captain when he became coach, well ahead of when any team was to be named. Then he seemingly felt unable to retract the captaincy as that would have been an admission he was wrong initially. Sam Cane was a good AB and a good captain. Through his injuries and some loss of form he maybe didn't deserve selection but Fozzie couldn't ever make that hard call which led to Cane copping it.
5 Go to commentsThe extra weight that Fraser put on over the off season is really showing. The word is 7/8 kgs heavier than last year. Feel he is now carrying into contact a lot more powerfully, which makes him a bigger threat playing in the sh position at lineout time. I do feel however that he is still too easily moved off the ball at the breakdown unless he is in really early. Comparing him to the top current guys such as Tommy Refell, and past supremos like Pocock and McCaw, I would hope he will develop more in that area. The rest of his game is way out front. His speed around the field as a support player is top notch, and his defence is very sound, apart from the front on tackle on the bigger men sometimes. I also would see him as a future WB captain. He does a lot of quiet encouraging, and for sure can lead from the front. Of the other three NZ lads on the stats. table, would think it may be Papalli’i who gets in. I do like Lakai. Is Blackadder not more a 6/8 player ? Actually really rated Lachlan Boshier, but he was not ever getting anywhere, so now in Japan. Would love to have seen how he went in a AB jersey. Excellent article, Nick…….most thought provoking
45 Go to commentsAhh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
45 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
9 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
71 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
5 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
5 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
71 Go to comments