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The first round of sanctions in the fallout from the European World Cup Qualifying fiasco has been handed out by Rugby Europe. Five players from Spain have been suspended for their participation in an ugly sequence of referee abuse that followed the controversial match in Brussels.
The suspensions are effective immediately and are as follows:
Sébastien Rouet – physical abuse of a Match Official – 43 weeks – return date February 12, 2019
Guillaume Rouet – physical abuse of a Match Official – 36 weeks – return date December 25, 2018
Pierre Barthere – threatening actions/words at a Match Official – 14 weeks – return date July 24, 2018
Lucas Guillaume – threatening actions/words at a Match Official – 14 weeks – return date July 24, 2018
Mathieu Bélie – threatening actions/words at a Match Official – 14 weeks – return date July 24, 2018
Players have the right of appeal within seven days. A general misconduct complaint against the Spanish Rugby Federation (FER) has been suspended with a separate hearing date to be set.
Should Spain be allowed to continue in the Qualifying process they would have none of the above players for a potential rematch with Belgium or play-off match with Portugal if required.
Three would return in time for the Repechage series in November if Spain are involved.
The Rouet brothers, both scrumhalves, will not be available until the 2019 Rugby Europe Championship but will return in time to play in the World Cup if Spain qualify.
Bélie, it should be noted, is one of the players currently under investigation by an independent World Rugby committee as being allegedly ineligible to represent Spain having played previously for France u20 in two matches that could be considered ‘binding’.
Further outcomes of the inquiries are expected later this week.
A chronological detailing of the events can be seen here.
