FRANCE team manager Raphaël Ibanez has told a press conference that he has ‘transmitted’ images of the fracas preceeding the punch which led to tight-head prop Mohamed Haouas being red-carded during yesterday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield to the match commissioner. The former hooker believes that Scottish No 8 has a case to answer.
“Momo played a big role in rebuilding the team,” said Ibanez, according to L’Equipe newspaper. “He was exemplary. Yesterday (Sunday), there are various clashes which bring about his gesture. He was rightly sanctioned. There is no possible dispute. But we tried to understand why he reacted like that. We found some pretty telling images that I passed on to the Citation Commissioner. The fate of the Scottish third line (Haining) is in the hands of the Citation Commissioner. ”
Coach Fabien Galthié has hinted that the broadcast on the giant screens at Murrayfield and viewed by the video referee had not shown the entire sequence. “The director’s choice is part of the wider case,” Galthie explained.
Here's further footage of the alleged incident
Via @francetvsport/ Reddit pic.twitter.com/HB96TLLlRr
— Illtud W. Dafydd (@IlltudDafydd) March 9, 2020
Scotland v France: Mohamed Haouas cracks under Rory Sutherland’s pressure
Scotland #6 came in from 20 metres and pushed France # 3 in the back with enough force to ground him instigating the whole ruckus. It was even high lighted on the replays after the game but absolutely no comment by any panel that I can see!
Surely the mitigating facts are that the Scotland #6 initiated the whole scenario and should be punished . Not that I condone punching but the guy Scotland guy what he deserved. Had the french guy not punched #6 percent would the Scottish 6 been carded?
No consistency!,
If anything gets up my nose it is the inconsistency of Referees Linesmen and TMO’s: observe the incident with Gilchrist, no mention of Wilemsee in addition to the No6 clearly helping Gilchrist on his way, seems to me TMO and Referee bottled it because it was in the first few moments of the game, either one or at a stretch both could have been punished. Well that’s my opinion for what it is worth.
With regard to Haining it was hardly even ‘handbags’ and any fair adjudication will tell the French not to engage in the equivalent of ‘wasting Police time’.
it doesn’t matter if it was an intentional gouge or not. Fingers in contact with the eye or area around it is what needs to be established. That it was a push back irrelevant.
But its very easy to take a still or even a short video clip from one angle and it looks like something it isn’t. From what we can see here it is far from conclusive that contact with the eye or area around it is made. Another angle might confirm one way or the other, but as nine has emerged we can assume that there either isn’t one or that it shows nothing to incriminate.
If one is available to 6N citing officer, then Haining would be cited and rightly suspended, but I very much doubt that will happen based on what we have seen
Hmmm! If deemed foul play(“near the eyes”) then they’re going to need to ban hand-offs.
What’s his point. Card for HIGH IMPACT PUNCH TO FACE. A Video of an open palm/ push with no Force is of no relevance over what was reviewed on the day, and I’m objective.
I was reading a French fan saying that ‘all Commonwealth referees’ favour Commonwealth countries. Can’t recall the last time there was a ref favouring Scotland!
Ifs thats the game run the footage all the way back to when he forst goes for hainingcand his two pals join in. Then examine every physical incident during the match and cite everyone, esoecially the rather ungracious french captain for his cheap shot on watson after scoring. Grow up its a mans game
Nothing in it. France just sore losers…..move on
You might like to go back to Haouas’s tackle on Haining and question what he was doing with his right hand. Or put another way, what did Haining take exception to? Seems to me Haouas may have been channelling his inner Marler.
I saw that too!
That Gif has been slowed down to make it worse. Watch it in real time there’s nothing in it. France grasping here.
The membership of the disciplinary panel is always open to question. It is hard to avoid partiality as they members are drawn from the home nations. so a team has played, involved or has yet to play the side of a panellists home nations.
Look carefully at the Finn Russell red card ban. Cited by Irish commissioner and with Irishman on judging panel. Russell was banned and missed the match against Ireland. Just saying.
Didn’t see that at the time, but that’s not a good set of images – sticking your fingers near someones eyes is asking for trouble.
If found guilty, low end ban is 12 weeks.
The bit I find surprising, is that Ritchie appears to have escaped scrutiny for running 15 metres and taking the French player out.
Didn’t escape scrutiny at all. Just deemed unworthy of punishment. It doesn’t matter how far he came to get involved. His teammate was isolated, surrounded by 4 opponents and he came to his aid. That’s what teammates do. I personally would have preferred that he didn’t use quite so much force, but I don’t think there was anything serious in it. The altercation had already begun by that point.
Never an eye gouge, its pushing and shoving. Embarrassing stuff from the French camp and all to deflect attention from their own teams indiscretions. France were out thought and out fought by a fine Scottish performance.
Bullshit, it should be a red car for both but the problem is Always fair referee, am I wrong ?
Yes, I’m afraid you are.
Occurrences like this happen in every heated contest. There is no reason for Haining to have any punishment given out to him.
As usual, fair play is when GB wins.
Fingers in the eyes = red card.
Hope the citing will lead to excluding scottish player.
You could interpret it as a red card – just as you could interpret the tip tackle on Gilchrist as a red, because he landed on his head. For me, common sense says neither merit a sending off.
I thought it would have been fair if either Haining or Ritchie got a yellow for their part in the fracas.
I have been a bit stunned by the reaction of the French fans and now the management itself. These people really don’t know how to lose with any class.
The verdict will be in the eye of the beholder
After France no7 scored he put his hand in Watson’s face. Scotland should refer him to citing commissioner.
Pretty poor Monsieur Ibanez. Nothing in that. Quit bleating and accept that your player lost the plot and your team lost the match.
Nothing in that he has just pushed him away. Poor from the French to try and make some excuses for there player. It was Ritchie he punched not Haining.
Haha,
Funny way to push someone… Normally when you push someone, it’s with your palm not your fingers directly to the eyes area…
You can’t tell the whole story from a still image. He counter-shoved Haouas and his palm hits Houas’ upper arm and brushes his face. Nothing in it for me and Haouas didn’t react to it. It’s up to the match commissioner to determine if it’s worth pursuing and, if cited, the panel. France are just being professional and trying to mitigate the ban Haouas will receive. They readily accept the red card was deserved.
Ibanez grasping at straws – pretty pathetic
That’s not a gouge, it’s a push. What’s not up for debate is the punch, there was no mitigation for that.
Similar to Ryan Wilson on Nathan Hughes – possibly unintentional, definitely fleeting, but risky going anywhere near the eye. It was definitely replayed as part of the TMO review so that part of the complaint at least is rubbish.
We’ll see what the citing panel says. Would it have changed the result? France’s turnover leading to their first try was nowhere near legal, so it goes both ways. Think the officials had a decent game overall.
Thats not an intended eye gouge…
Definitely not an eye gouge, good comparison earlier with the Ryan Wilson one, and I would say this incident had less in it than that one had. This should be thrown out.
The only way he is found guilty is if the panel are cowed into finding against Haining and I genuinely don’t think the panel are spineless people.