English referee Tom Foley has decided to step away from international officiating for the foreseeable future. Foley, who refereed 48 internationals, including eight games at the 2023 World Cup, received a 'torrent of criticism and abuse online' after the World Cup final, including death threats. He will continue to officiate in the Gallagher Premiership. This decision follows a trend in rugby with Wayne Barnes' retirement and concerns about abuse faced by match officials. The announcement has raised concerns about the treatment of match officials in the sport.
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Englishman Tom Foley has announced his decision to withdraw from international match officiating, attributing online abuse as a primary factor. https://t.co/LD4sjzhlRS
World Cup final TMO Tom Foley takes Test break after abuse and threats https://t.co/0Arue4YboI
Tom Foley, the TMO from the 2023 RWC final, has announced he is stepping away from refereeing international matches for the foreseeable future citing unacceptable levels of abuse aimed at match officials. https://t.co/j1p9w1dre7
Tom Foley, who was the TMO, for this year's World Cup final, has stepped down from officiating international matches. https://t.co/QbFAc1f9Tu
Tom Foley, who received social media abuse after the @rugbyworldcup final, has decided to step away from international match officiating for the foreseeable future. He will continue to officiate in the Gallagher Premiership.
Oh not again. Another really good match official has decided that international rugby is not for him, due to the garbage that goes with it. @tomfole will concentrate on @premrugby for the time being
Tom Foley, a hugely respected match official both domestically and as part of the International Match Officials group, has decided to step away from international match officiating for the foreseeable future. He will continue to officiate in the Gallagher Premiership.
Tom Foley, TMO in the World Cup final, has quit international rugby in the wake of the online abuse he received after the game. It comes on the back of Wayne Barnes' retirement and Owen Farrell news. Rugby now has a very real problem in this area. @MailSport story to come...
🌹 BREAKING: Tom Foley has stepped back from international refereeing. This comes just a week after he revealed he had received death threats since the World Cup final. He will continue to referee the Premiership.
🌹 BREAKING: Tom Foley has stepped back from international refereeing. This comes just a week after he revealed he had receive death threats since the World Cup final. He will continue to referee the Premiership.
English match official Tom Foley, who was TMO for the World Cup final, is stepping back from international rugby. He received a "torrent of criticism and abuse online" after the RWC final, including death threats. https://t.co/KOF5WwwN0e
🏴 NEW: English referee Tom Foley has decided to step away from international officiating for the foreseeable future. Foley refereed 48 internationals, including eight games at the 2023 World Cup. He will continue to officiate in the Gallagher Premiership.