The International Federation is "establishing the facts" before deciding on the photo on which Jaco Peyper imitates the gesture that has earned a red card to a French player.
The World Cup XV of France ended Sunday, October 20, at the stadium of Oita in southern Japan, after a quarterfinal lost (20-19) against the Welsh. Eliminated, the French refuses however to overwhelm Sebastien Vahaamahina, their teammate expelled to the 49e minute for a nudge on Welsh third-row Aaron Wainwright, thus forcing them to end the match at one less.
Jaco Peyper in a beautiful tribute to Vahaamahina. Photo of Fabien Heuzé https://t.co/g5vo93413s
Arnaud Coudry is a journalist at "Figaro".
But in the evening of their defeat, the diffusion of a photo disturbs. We see Jaco Peyper, the referee of the match, imitating, with seven Welsh fans, the nudge that earned the second-line French a red card in the second half. Vahaamahina will be auditioned Thursday by an independent commission of discipline, indicated World Rugby, without specifying the place.
"We are establishing the facts"
World Rugby explained on Monday to be in the process of"Establish the facts" before deciding on this picture. «World Rugby is aware of a photo circulating on social networks showing Jaco Peyper with a group of Wales fans after the quarter-final between Wales and France yesterday (Sunday) to Oita. It would be inappropriate to make further comment while we are establishing the facts "said the International Federation in a statement.
"When we wake up and we see that, it's shocking, even inadmissible. You have to be careful and see if it's a real photo or a montage. That's what I'm going to ask World Rugby, I'm going tonight (on Monday) in Tokyo for the whole week, we will analyze ", responded the president of the French Rugby Federation, Bernard Laporte, at the microphone of the channel BFM-TV. "If it's true, it's inconceivable and inadmissible, we're making fun of Sébastien Vahaamahina and France. I think it deserves a heavy penalty, because a referee must be exemplary outside and in the field. " he added.
Serge Simon, the vice president of the French Rugby Federation, reacted Sunday night to his account Twitter : "This picture, if true, is shocking and explanations will be needed. "
