'Ban him for 8-12 months. See how employable he is then': Matthieu Acebes red sparks fury
Perpignan captain Matthieu Acebes committed perhaps the most blatantly violent act recent rugby has seen in the weekend’s Top 14 match against La Rochelle.
The winger received a red card and fans are calling for a suspension that would end any participation in rugby that Acebes might have enjoyed in 2023.
France midfielder Jonathan Danty was the victim of Acebes’ ill temper, the La Rochelle star was being held on the ground by Perpignan centre Afusipa Taumoepeau in a minor off-ball scuffle when Acebes noticed the altercation and ran in from the nearby ruck, diving headfirst and making direct contact with Danty’s cheekbone area. The Perpignan captain’s elbow can also be seen hitting Danty’s upper chest.
Danty reeled away after Acebes was dragged out of the altercation by a La Rochelle player. Taumoepeau’s attitude quickly turned from anger to concern as he witnessed the severity of the contact up close.
How dirty was that, another player already holding him down on the ground as he comes in with the elbow, zero reason for that other than to hurt a player.
— Carfan111 (@Carfan1112) January 4, 2023
Wrong on so many counts, sly and cowardly
— c edwards (@cewba) January 3, 2023
The one good thing about social media is being able to call this kind of behaviour out. Who wants to be known as a sportsman like this? Yep…no one. In fact, not sportsman like at all…
— Blue Sky Sports Physiotherapy (@blueskyphys) January 4, 2023
Full 12 month ban should teach him a lesson but if he has a history should be increased to 24 months.
— Jason Ryan (@metalman69) January 3, 2023
Not a rugby man is he! He’ll be gutted that he found fame in this manner. More suited to UFC I think.
— Colin Hancock (@ColinGHancock) January 4, 2023
THAT WERE DIABOLICAL
— DareDemon666 (@jackgeniejeanes) January 3, 2023
The disciplinary system has to be so punitive that this kind of incident becomes obsolete…. Ban him for 8-12 months. See how employable he is then
— NickFielden (@NickFielden) January 3, 2023
Perpignan released the following statement the day following the incident.
“The Club has just been informed of the threats and insults received by Mathieu Acebes, following his red card during the last match. This gesture, which the player regrets infinitely, will be treated in due time by the disciplinary committee of the LNR and Mathieu will bear the consequences. Moreover, the Club cannot accept or tolerate threats and messages of hatred being uttered against one of its players or their family. The Club appeals to your vigilance and would like to remind you that respect is an essential value of our sport.”
Shortly after the match, Acebes posted an apology to Instagram: “I am a great fan of our sport, I have always defended it and its values… I play with passion, unfortunately this weekend I lost control of my emotions, @jo_danty is a player I respect a lot and I strongly regret my move and I apologised immediately after the game. I will face the consequences of this unfortunate move. Judging me on my values and integrity in my privacy on this single gesture is regrettable. I don’t want to give that bad image. Will continue to work hard for the club. It’s only sport. Life goes on Always forward. We will never die.”
In a since-deleted reply, Danty responded: “You do not regret your gesture and I do not excuse it. It was premeditated. Two minutes before you had warned me that you would take care of me, before headbutting me when I was talking on the ground with one of your teammates. Your apologies are intended for the disciplinary committee. You do not regret your gesture and I do not excuse it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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