This week, Group Seven Referees Association president Paul Lees issued a stern warning to the South Coast rugby league competition saying abuse towards referees won't be tolerated.

"If any club official, supporter or parent behind the bench area is yelling at the touch judges or centre referee about decisions made, onside/offside calls or any berating at all that is aimed at the referees, I have instructed the officials get the ground manager to remove them from the ground," Lees said in a statement release by the Group Seven Referees Association.

Read more: Federal Court speeds up Dragons player Jack de Belin's NRL appeal

"If this were to happen, the referee shouldn't restart the game until those people have been removed.

"And if they refuse to co-operate, the referee is to blow the whistle like it's full-time and abandon the game."

Lees himself actually stopped the Shellharbour Sharks and Kiama Knights game at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday in the 38^th minute, calling the host's ground manager over to explain these procedures.

"We need to stamp out this abusive culture and behaviour [towards referees] by taking strong and affirmative action," Lees said.

"We will stand by you and support you when this happens no matter what."

Lees has also asked for support of this stance from the Illawarra Referees Association, to ensure all junior and senior officials do not have to tolerate this ant-social negative behaviour anymore, which he says is a another huge step in working in unison and supporting each other.