Former Super League ref in legal wrangle with the NRL
Former Super League referee Tim Roby is attempting to sue the NRL for unfair dismissal following his departure at the end of 2020.
Now known as Tim Alouani-Roby, the 33-year-old officiated more than 75 games in the UK top flight, including the 2014 Super League Grand Final.
He emigrated to Australia the following year with his partner, treading the same path as fellow ex-Super League refs Russell Smith and Ashley Klein.
After serving as a touch-judge for his first 12 months, he was appointed as an assistant referee for the first time in the NRL in August 2016.
Alouani-Roby went on to take charge of 21 NRL games, though was stood down for a week in 2018 after missing a forward pass as a touch-judge that led to a late Cronulla win against New Zealand Warriors.
He argued he was made a scapegoat following a controversial call at the NRL Nines in 2000, where a try after the hooter was awarded to St George-Illawarra Dragons despite the ball being grounded outside the field of play. Alouani-Roby was the in-goal judge for that game.
Victimisation
This third lawsuit, filed against the NRL in the Federal Court, alleges that he was sacked due to victimisation relating to his union membership and illness-induced fatigue.
He had contracted an illness on a holiday to Vietnam after the 2017 World Cup that affected him physically following his return and he said he felt pressured to perform by new referees boss Bernard Sutton.
A previous claim was thrown out in November 2021, when it was found the NRL had not fired the referee but simply not decided to extend his contract after it expired. He was one of two referees who didn’t have their deals extended into 2021.
The notes of the case found that the contract in place was a genuine agreement between two parties with a fixed end-date, and was used to highlight the importance of contractual terms.
Despite the contract not being renewed against a background of illness and alleged performance issues, it was confirmed that the fixed term contract provided no guarantee of ongoing work.
However, reports Down Under say it was found that the NRL previously made ‘minimal’ adjustments to accommodate Alouani-Roby’s illness, complaining that the referee was ‘being soft’ and that his British accent ‘(wasn’t) helping either'”.
The judgement also revealed a conversation relating to an end of season fitness test, where it was said: “The real reason for the yo-yo test is to make Tim Alouani-Roby aware of his level of fitness within the group. I want to make him feel uncomfortable to the extent he will retire on his own.”
That prompted an appeal, which was thrown out in September 2022, but Alouani-Roby is now seeking to have the dispute re-heard by the Fair Work Commission.
Alouani-Roby is said to now be working in a consultancy role with Sydney Roosters, as well as a job outside of the game.
