RUGBY player Casey Johnson has been handed a huge fine and banned for a sick joke about a female referee’s boobs.
The Ossett RUFC prop has will not be able to participate or spectate at any rugby union games for the next 32 weeks.
PACasey Johnson has been banned from rugby union until next March[/caption]
Johnson made the sick joke while watching one of Ossett’s matches.
He admitted to shouting “get your baps out, ref” at the female official.
During a hearing in June, he was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game
The panel said that the severity of the incident was a “top end” offence as “the phrase was abhorrent and highly offensive”.
Johnson admitted that he was “intoxicated” and had “no real explanation” for why he did it.
The referee has chosen to keep her identity anonymous in the written verdict.
She revealed that she was “shocked” by the sick joke and that her parents heard it as they were in the crowd.
She added that they were left “heartbroken and angry” by Johnson’s remarks.
Johnson was set to be banned for a full 42 weeks, but due to his acceptance of the charge early on, it was reduced.
The panel cut the suspension to 28 weeks and noted that he “appreciated at the time that what he had said was inappropriate and had intended to apologise to the match official at the end of the game but was advised by friends not to do so given his intoxicated state”.
He has also been forced to pay £125 in costs.
Despite admitting to the previous comment, he denied saying “show us your boobs”, but the panel said it “made no difference” to the sanction.
His full suspension is “from playing, coaching and spectating from 1st August 2025 to 13th March 2026”.
However, he is not banned from midweek training sessions.
The referee was praised for handling the situation “impeccably” by the panel who also added how she dealt with the aftermath was “impressive”.
In her written testimony, the referee hailed the quick action the clubs took to identify Johnson.
She wrote: “I was approached by the Ossett coach after the game who told me that he had been made aware by my dad during the game of the nature of the comments that were being made.
“The coach profusely apologised and informed me that they had sent someone over during the game to speak to the spectators.
“After the game as I was walking to the changing rooms I was approached by the spectators’ friends who apologised on his behalf… and also apologised to both of my parents at the end of the match.
“Once changed, I entered the clubhouse and approached the Ossett coach to get the name of the spectator.
“The coach returned two minutes later with their head coach, who had been watching the game, and the spectator’s name.
“The head coach apologised on behalf of the spectator and the club and condemned the spectator’s behaviour and called it unacceptable, ‘disgusting’, and assured me it did not represent the values of the club.
“Whilst I don’t condone what happened, and I wouldn’t wish it upon any match official.
“I am glad that what started off as an uncomfortable and negative experience was made significantly better with the reactions and support that I’ve received both post-match and from people within the refereeing community.”
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