Toulon owner banned for 130 days over ref rant

Outspoken Toulon owner and club president Mourad Boudjellal was handed a 130-day ban on Thursday after using lurid language to describe the level of refereeing in a recent Top 14 game.

Boudjellal made the remarks on January 8 following Toulon's defeat at Clermont, claiming his side had been "sodomised by the referees".

France's National Rugby League (LNR) took exception to his remarks and on Thursday announced it had handed Boudjellal a ban that will see him unable to work as the club's president until June 3.

Boudjellal, who made his fortune in comic books, has the right to appeal the LNR decision.

The decision means Boudjellal will be "forbidden entry to official match (including before and after the matches) venues, to the changing rooms (teams and referees) as well as the corridors leading to these zones", according to an LNR statement.

"I haven't come out of it too badly because without going into details, there's been a lot of pressure to get rid of me," said Boudjellal.

"I'll give myself some time to think about an appeal, but I'll ask for a reworking of the ruling because the toughest bit is not not being in the stands but no longer being able to speak to my players before the match, put an arm around their shoulder.

"The ruling is not to do with what I said but more to do with what I represent," he said, warning: "The thing that will stop me talking is yet to be born."

Last week the French Rugby Referees Union (UNAR) threatened to sue Boudjellal, who regularly targets what he perceives as the conservatism of French rugby, for defamation after the remarks.

Boudjellal replied to the threat, saying: "I am not surprised that they are attacking me. With what they are paid, they need the money."

Date published : 26 Jan 201219:16:52

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