RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer has been found guilty of “unacceptable language” but escaped being sacked.
The governing body has investigated a complaint in relation to Rimmer’s controversial comments about the Fijian World Cup team at a recent event. The governing body has investigated a complaint in relation to Rimmer’s controversial comments about the Fiji team after they arrived in the UK ahead of the World Cup. There had been calls for him to quit after he told the audience at the Championship and League 1 awards dinner: “Fiji have already arrived. We don't think anybody has been arrested yet, do we?”
RFL chair Simon Johnson submitted a 21-page report on the matter to the RFL Board and Rimmer. But it has been deemed the CEO - who announced last month he would leave the RFL at the end of this year - would not face formal disciplinary action. Just two hours before England were due to kick-off against Fiji at Salford in their World Cup warm-up match, the RFL released a statement.
It read: “As previously confirmed by the RFL, following receipt of a complaint in relation to comments made by the CEO, Ralph Rimmer, at the Championship and League One Awards Dinner on September 26, relevant procedures have been followed under the Directors’ Code of Conduct, led by the RFL Chair, Simon Johnson.
“The Chair has now submitted a 21-page report to the RFL Board and to Ralph Rimmer. The procedures involved the gathering of information and opinion from three independent experts, in addition to a number of attendees at the dinner, and a statement from Ralph Rimmer. Views from the Fiji Rugby League and their World Cup travelling party were also sought.
“The report concluded that the language fell within the wide definition of unacceptable language as defined in the RFL’s Operational Rules, and therefore could be considered to breach the Code of Conduct. However it noted that the comment was taken within the context of a wider discussion of the World Cup; that any insult of the Fiji National Team or of people from Fiji or of Fijian origin or heritage was unintended; and that the Fiji National Team, the Federation and the Confederation have accepted Ralph Rimmer’s apology for the comments.
“Noting the agreement of all consulted that there was no intent in the use of the unacceptable language; that a fulsome apology was issued and accepted; and taking into account relevant and applicable precedent, from other sports and previous RFL compliance investigations, the decision of the Chair is that no formal disciplinary action is appropriate - the matter will be dealt with through education, to be conducted during the three months before Ralph Rimmer’s previously announced departure from the RFL at the end of the year.”
