Kandy Sports Club has strongly rejected claims made by Sri Lanka Rugby following the A-Division League match against CH & FC, insisting that no match official was assaulted or physically harmed during or after the fixture.
In a statement posted on Facebook and addressed to Sri Lanka Rugby, the club said all match officials and visiting players were safely escorted to their dressing rooms immediately after the final whistle, with senior club officials personally ensuring their safety. Kandy SC acknowledged spectator dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions but stressed that supporters showed restraint and did not harm any official.
The club alleged that a member of CH & FC’s support staff assaulted a spectator after the match, an incident it claims was defused only through the intervention of Kandy SC officials. It questioned Sri Lanka Rugby’s assertion that the individual was not an official, citing social media posts and his visible role and attire during the match.
Kandy SC further criticized what it described as biased and incompetent officiating, stating that poor refereeing contributes to post-match unrest. The club has sought clarification on whether any action will be taken against the referee involved.
While reaffirming its commitment to player and official safety and indicating it is willing to strengthen security, Kandy Sports Club said it will continue to play its home matches exclusively at Nittawela Grounds in front of its supporters. (Newswire)
Full Statement
Dear Mr. Fernando,
We write to place on record our grave concern and strong objection to the press release issued by Sri Lanka Rugby in relation to the Kandy Sports Club vs CH & FC fixture.
At the outset, we categorically state that no match official was assaulted or physically harmed at any point during or after the match. This is a fact. All match officials and visiting players were safely escorted to their respective dressing rooms immediately after the final whistle, without incident. Our Hon. Secretary and Team Manager personally ensured the safety of the Referee and all match officials.
Despite intense dissatisfaction among spectators regarding the competency and neutrality of the Referee, not a single official was touched by any spectator. This restraint by our supporters must be acknowledged, particularly in the context of what transpired subsequently.
It is unfortunate and clearly visible that Mr. Gayan Weerarathne, a member of the support staff of the CH & FC team, assaulted a spectator after the conclusion of the match. This incident was witnessed by many, and the situation was de-escalated only due to the timely intervention of Kandy Sports Club officials, who acted with considerable difficulty to prevent retaliatory action by spectators.
We totally agree that hooliganism has no place in rugby; however, when Sri Lanka Rugby does not take action against officials who themselves behave like hooligans and thugs, there is little credibility in pointing fingers at anyone else.
Further, we are at a loss to understand how Sri Lanka Rugby can state that Mr. Gayan Weerarathne is not an official of CH & FC, when the official Sri Lanka Rugby Facebook page itself carried a post 27th October 2025 identifying Mr. Weerarathne as the Trainer of the CH & FC team. Furthermore, whether he is formally registered or not is entirely irrelevant. He was clearly seen with the CH & FC team, assisting them before and during the game, and there was never any doubt that he was functioning as the team’s Trainer. He was also attired in official CH & FC uniform throughout the fixture.
For Sri Lanka Rugby to ignore such despicable conduct by an individual acting in an official team capacity is unacceptable and will only encourage further acts of hooliganism, ultimately bringing the game of rugby into serious disrepute.
We also wish to state firmly that provocative incidents of this nature do not arise in isolation. When match officials fail to act impartially and do not discharge their duties with integrity and competence, such situations are inevitably inflamed. We strongly emphasize that honest, unbiased, and competent refereeing is the first and most critical safeguard against post-match unrest.
In this context, we seek clarification on what action, if any, the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees has taken or intends to take against the referee concerned, whose biased decision-making during the KSC vs CH & FC match was evident and widely questioned.
We will continue to ensure the safety of all officials and players at future fixtures and, if required, will further strengthen security measures. However, we hereby formally inform Sri Lanka Rugby that Kandy Sports Club will play its home matches only at Nittawela Grounds, in front of its supporters, and nowhere else.
We trust Sri Lanka Rugby will reassess the contents of its press release, acknowledge the facts as they stand, and ensure accountability at all levels—particularly where match officials and individuals acting in official capacities are concerned.
Yours faithfully,
President
Kandy Sports Club
Nittawela, Kandy
- Sri Lanka Rugby Statement
