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Mathieu Bastareaud - Source: Photosport -
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France centre Mathieu Bastareaud faces disciplinary sanctions
after admitting to lying when he claimed he had been attacked after
a defeat by New Zealand, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on
Friday.
Bastareaud had said he had been attacked by up to five people as he
returned to the team hotel early last Sunday following a 14-10 loss
to New Zealand in Wellington.
"Pierre Camou, president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR),
wishes to apologise to the people of New Zealand and to the New
Zealand Federation," the FFR said in a statement.
"He (Camou) has asked the (FFR) disciplinary committee to open an
inquiry."
CCTV footage from the hotel where the 20-year-old Bastareaud was
staying showed him walking in uninjured at 0522 local time, the
French daily L'Equipe's website (www.lequipe.fr) reported on
Friday.
"I just talked to Mathieu. He came back to his hotel under the
influence of alcohol, he stumbled and fell," his club Stade
Francais president Max Guazzini told lequipe.fr. "In the morning,
he got scared of the consequences it could have with the team's
management."
New Zealand rugby officials issued an apology to Bastareaud and
the French team while New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said he
hoped the attack would not put people off travelling to the
country.
"New Zealand and the rugby world must have legitimately felt hurt
by the player's initial statements which also harm the image of
French rugby," the FFR statement read.
"Being an international means showing responsibility and
exemplarity while representing your country and its federation,"
Camou said through the statement.
What do you think of Bastareaud's lies? Comment on our
messageboard below!
Add a Comment:
Post new commentalwyn said on 2009-06-26 @ 14:29 NZDT: Report abusive post
Someone should give him another black eye.
Decipher It said on 2009-06-26 @ 12:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
That is totally outrageous!! He used NZ as ascapegoat just tosave his own butt!1 He's totally ruined NZ's image!! He should be made to apoligize!! Shame on you basteraud!!
Equipe said on 2009-06-26 @ 10:04 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hope the Wellington CIB or NZRFU are sending an invoice the way of the French Rugby Union or to Bastareaud himself. Kerry Prendergast makes a good point - how much collusion was there? Wellington has enough very serious real crime which is likely to not have been dealt with due to this dirty big Bastareaud. However, if this had been a real case with a non rugby playing star would the same resources have been used?
shahi said on 2009-06-26 @ 09:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hmmmm, remember the hollywood dive and writhe on the ground that the French winger did after being nudged by Maa Nonu in the first half. Apparently in Europe this behaviour which is endemic in football is bleeding over to our code. This has to be stopped now. Hollywood theatrics has no place in a gentlemens game. A hall of shame should be posted. No decent Kiwi player would even think of it. SC
RickyBeee said on 2009-06-26 @ 09:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think he's a naughty lying Bastareaud.