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France player Mathieu Bastareaud - Source: Newstalk ZB -
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Mathieu Bastareaud admitted lying about being assaulted in
Wellington only after police suggested he "reconsider" his
position, the head of the police inquiry says.
Bastareaud had told police he was attacked from behind by five men
outside his hotel early on Sunday morning, leaving him with a
serious eye injury requiring stitches.
He admitted overnight he had lied after drinking too much following
his team's Saturday night loss to the All Blacks and had fallen in
his hotel room, hitting his head on a table.
Inspector Pete Cowan told Radio New Zealand there had been no
evidence to support Bastareaud's version of events, including CCTV
footage from the Holiday Inn which showed him entering the hotel
without injuries.
He said Wellington police on Thursday asked the New Zealand Rugby
Football Union to contact their French counterparts to discuss the
incident further.
"We outlined clearly our findings which showed Mr Bastareaud's
allegations were a pure fabrication and suggested that Mr
Bastareaud reconsider his position."
It was because of this police action that Bastareaud admitted he
had lied, Mr Cowan said.
"Mr Bastareaud hasn't come out overnight and apologised out of the
goodness of his heart. This has been a strategy from us and the New
Zealand Rugby Football Union have been strong supporters and
assisted us in this."
Cowan said Bastareaud had arrived back at the hotel at 5.22am on
Sunday but didn't enter his room until 25 minutes later, and "what
happened in that 25 minutes is obviously open to a lot of
speculation".
Bastareaud had not laid an official complaint, but his fabricated
story had wasted "an enormous amount of resources", Mr Cowan
said.
Wellington's mayor Kerry Prendergast earlier said she believed the
French rugby team and its management had colluded over Bastareaud's
story.
"There was clearly collusion, there were other players involved,
the team doctor's involved, the coach because Bastareaud got sent
back to France so quickly. This is wider than just one player
...
"Other people knew. You can't just say `this is one person, he
should take the blame on his own'."
When asked how she knew there were other people involved,
Prendergast said she had gained that understanding from media
reports.
The New Zealand Rugby Union said it was outraged that Bastareaud
fabricated the story.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said like many New Zealanders, he
was disappointed that the player chose to make a false statement
and cast a negative light on rugby, Wellington and New Zealand
through his deception.
"Like all New Zealanders, I am extremely disappointed with this
series of events and will be expressing that concern to the French
Rugby Federation."
Bastareaud admitted he fabricated the story in a statement on the
website of his French club team, Stade Francais.
He said he had had too much to drink on Saturday night and fallen
in his hotel room.
"I was ashamed and panicked and I thought I would be sent packing
by the team management," the statement said.
"I told the original story because I thought it would be believed,
but given the coverage it has subsequently received I thought it
would be better to tell the truth."
He apologised to the New Zealand Rugby Union, Wellington, and his
team and coaching staff.
Bastareaud now faces disciplinary sanctions from the French Rugby
Federation (FFR).
In a statement, its president Pierre Camou apologised to the
people of New Zealand and the New Zealand Rugby Union, and said he
had asked the FFR disciplinary committee to open an inquiry into
the incident.
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.