The president of Bridlington RUFC has been banned for three years after being found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the game. Neil Arton was charged with repeatedly pulling a female employee’s bra, causing it to become undone in front of other club members at a fundraising event. An independent panel at a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing in July found Arton guilty and banned him from attending or being a member of any RFU affiliated rugby club for three years, with one year suspended, and ordered him to pay £125 in costs.
The incident occurred in July 2023, but a subsequent police investigation, which resulted in no criminal charges, delayed the RFU's action. The victim, referred to as X in the written judgment, stated that throughout the “Party in the Park” fundraising event, Arton regularly approached her and attempted to undo her bra strap with one hand. X added that Arton claimed he had always been good at doing so. The judgment notes that X asked Arton to stop and questioned his behavior.
On one occasion, Arton successfully undid X’s bra strap, leaving her breasts unsupported. X said Arton appeared to find this amusing and she sought to avoid him, considering the incident absolutely inappropriate and constituting an assault. X also mentioned overhearing Arton refer to the girth of his penis at an early stage of the day, in what seemed to be an attempt at humor.
Arton denied sexual assault and claimed the only physical contact with X arose in the context of jocularity when she pushed him and he pushed her back. After hearing witness testimony, the panel concluded that Arton’s behavior was very serious, persistent, deliberate, designed to humiliate, grossly invaded X’s personal space and dignity, bore a sexual connotation, and carried a significant power imbalance given his position as a club director. The panel also noted Arton showed no remorse.
The panel heard that Arton had made significant contributions to Bridlington RUFC and had faced abuse from townspeople. An appeal by Arton against the decision was quashed. The panel stated that Arton is acutely aware of his fall from grace, entirely of his own making, and ignored advice from others to alter his behavior. His conduct during the hearing did not inspire hope that he has learned any lessons or is receptive to doing so in the future.
Invading someone’s personal space in the manner found, and touching X in the face of her repeated objections, is wholly inappropriate and wrong. Such behavior is no longer tolerated, especially in a rugby club where members are entitled to expect dignity and respect. A separate allegation against Arton, that he attempted to grab a female club member inappropriately, was not upheld by the panel.
