LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has strongly condemned the "disgraceful" homophobic abuse aimed at match official Marcus Griffiths.
Griffiths, who is a full-time referee for the RFL, recently officiated the Super League game between Huddersfield and Leeds.
Despite his professional duties, he has been subjected to a barrage of homophobic slurs on social media.
Screenshots of the offensive messages were made public by Griffiths on Tuesday, prompting the RFL to offer its full support to the official.
Tony Sutton, the RFL chief executive, expressed his outrage at the abuse and called on all involved in the sport to consider the consequences of their words and actions.
Sutton also highlighted that homophobic abuse is a hate crime and is punishable by law.
The RFL has promised to provide support to Griffiths through Rugby League Cares and has alerted the relevant authorities to the abuse.
In addition, the RFL has written to all professional clubs in the sport, instructing them to emphasize their role in supporting match officials.
The RFL sees it as their duty, as a governing body and as a sport, to stand by their officials and take strong action against those responsible for discriminatory abuse.
The officials already work under intense scrutiny and pressure, and it is crucial for the sport to provide them with unwavering support.