Bad Behaviour in sport

In my local competition where I have the pleasure of heading up the Umpires ( although I umpire in the Shires competition. Strange to be sure but that is what they wanted) we had poor behaviour  in the finals on the Weekend. This is a rarity but will be addressed. Reports will be completed on THREE matches out of five including the most prestigious A grade played on turf!

Then I found out quite late of homophobic slurs being used in a rugby game. I thought this very strange as these 'remarks' were directed at various players and I had not heard the team had a lot of players whom were homosexuals.
As it was the teams doesn't have a lot of homosexuals and the 'remarks' were directed to heterosexuals.  How 'homophobic' slurs can be directed to anyone but a homosexual is something on the Rugby Union administration can answer. It is bit like saying if you say someone is playing like a little girl it is a sexist slur.
Now a slur is defined as
 "

slur

 (slɜː)

vb (mainly tr) , slurs, slurring or slurred

1. (often foll by over) to treat superficially, hastily, or without due deliberation; gloss

2. (also intr) to pronounce or utter (words, etc) indistinctly

3. to speak disparagingly of or cast aspersions on

4. (Music, other) music to execute (a melodic interval of two or more notes) smoothly, as in legato performance

5. (also intr) to blur or smear

6. to stain or smear; sully

n

7. an indistinct sound or utterance

8. a slighting remark; aspersion

9. a stain or disgrace, as upon one's reputation; stigma

10. (Music, other) music

a. a performance or execution of a melodic interval of two or more notes in a part

b. the curved line (⌣ or ⌢) indicating this

11. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a blur or smear ''

Obviously in this case it is number three that is being used.

In football I hand out yellow cards for derogatory comments.

This is defined as:

"

derogatory 

Something that's derogatory is insulting or disrespectful. If you make derogatory comments, that means you say things that are unflattering, unkind, or demeaning.

Derogatory means about the same as insulting. Derogatory language is meant to hurt, and it usually does. If you feel offended or insulted by what someone says, the person probably said something derogatory. Racial, sexist, and homophobic slurs are all derogatory. Insults that mean someone is stupid or crazy are derogatory. Making a joke about someone's mother is derogatory."

Thus I believe rugby union over-reacted. If the man was playing football I would have shown him a yellow the first time he said the comments and then the second time and hence he would have been shown a red card.