MVIL re-thinks support

THE major sponsor for match officials of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has condemned recent assaults on referees and touch judges, adding that it will re-consider its support.
Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) denounced the assaults by Brothers and Souths players and officials in the Port Moresby Rugby Football League finals earlier this month, calling for the culprits to be handed life bans.
MVIL had given K500,000 in 2019, K250,000 in 2020 and another K250,000 this year to PNGRFL’s PNG National Rugby League Competition.
MVIL managing director Michael Makap said match officials were people who deserved to be treated with decency and respect.
“They play a crucial role in ensuring that the game is played in the true spirit of good competition and fairness,” he said.
“Secondly, the match officials who were assaulted in these PNGRFL-sanctioned matches had MVIL-branded uniforms on.
“Hence, the attack on the officials is an indirect attack on MVIL.
“It is an unpleasant thing to see in the print media, and on television and social media.
“MVIL is against all forms of violence.
“I mentioned during my opening speech before this year’s Digicel Cup grand final that MVIL would not tolerate any form of violence against match officials.” Makap said he condemned such behaviour in the strongest possible terms as a sponsor and avid supporter of the sport.
Makap has written to PNGRFL to provide a response on how the sport’s national governing body was handling the matter and requested its strategies to protect match officials in the future. He said PNGRFL should impose life bans on those involved to show that there was no place for violence in the sport.
“MVIL stands together with PNGRFL match officials against this senseless behaviour,” Makap said.
“The company will re-consider its future sponsorship.”