Vaimoso village leaders say they have not yet decided on a village meeting or final action following an incident at a rugby match between Vaimoso and Marist, where a Vaimoso man allegedly entered the field with a knife, intending to attack the referee.

Leaututu Alapati, Vaimoso mayor, said the village is waiting for the police process to be completed before making any final decision.

“We have not decided yet when the village will hold a meeting to bring this man in. We will have to wait until he returns because the case is already with the police. The police came and took him,” he said.

He also said the man has already been banned from the rugby field.

“I have already advised the families that he is banned from being seen at the field. I also hope the rugby team will not be suspended because of this kind of behaviour,” he said.

To’omagauaume Mikaele Ume, a former deacon and elder of the village, said a planned village meeting did not go ahead because many elders were unavailable.

“The village was supposed to have a meeting today, but it did not go ahead because most of the elders in the village are travelling and some are busy with their families, so all the issues involving our village could not be discussed,” he said.

He said the village will not rush a decision while the matter is still with the police.

“I will say the punishment is warranted, but we have not yet reached a final decision for the village. We will not rush a decision while the matter is still with the police. We will wait for the police outcome, but that will not remove the village’s decision,” he said.

He added that if the man is jailed, the village may take further action.

“If the courts decide on imprisonment, that is their decision. The village decision may be to ban or remove him from the village, and the final punishment will depend on the police's outcome. This person has disgraced our village, especially going onto the field with a knife, and it has brought the village name into shame,” he said.

The incident occurred during the Shield Match between Vaimoso and Marist on Saturday. Vaimoso lost the match, igniting violent behaviour from the fans.