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Brive's Ugalde facing possible ban for alleged gouge against Grenoble

Sunday’s Top 14 clash in Grenoble was a hot-tempered affair.

BRIVE OUT-HALF MATTHIEU Ugalde is waiting to learn if he will be cited by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby [LNR] for an alleged eye gouge in yesterday’s Top 14 defeat to Grenoble.

The governing body of the French league has not made any statement on the incident yet, although there are a number of disciplinary matters to be reviewed from the hot-tempered Top 14 clash.

1 Ugalde may face a charge for eye gouging.

There were three red cards and three yellow cards during Grenoble’s 36-23 victory, which took place in midday temperatures of around 35°C and required water breaks midway through in each half of play.

A full-on brawl erupted between the teams just before half time, leading to the three red cards, and it seems likely that there will be citings from that incident too.

It is Ugalde’s actions that are bringing far more attention, however, after the Brive playmaker allegedly attempted to gouge Grenoble wing Armand Batlle as he scored a try.

Under World Rugby’s Law 10.4 (m), “contact with the eye(s) or eye area” of an opposition player can bring a sanction of 12 weeks at the low end, 18 weeks in the mid range, and 24+ weeks at the top end.

The maximum sanction is 208 weeks.

2

Ugalde has defended himself in an interview with French newspaper Sud Ouest, saying:

“Leaving the field, I did not remember this action. But my team-mates quickly asked me, ‘What have you done?’

“For me, it’s not a gouge. My fist was closed. I quickly went to talk to Armand Batlle and we saw each other at the post-match reception. He told me not to worry.”

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    Mute Sean Buckley
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    Aug 11th 2019, 12:29 PM

    And United fans still wish Souness was in charge at Liverpool.

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    Mute John Jones
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    Aug 11th 2019, 1:14 PM

    There’s a rumour that Souness smiled once. Nasty rumour to spread.

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    Mute John Barry
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    Aug 11th 2019, 12:59 PM

    Souness is obsessed with Pogba..

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Aug 11th 2019, 1:34 PM

    @John Barry: and the 42 are obsessed with Souness’ obsession with Pogba.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Aug 11th 2019, 11:56 AM

    Zzzzzz …

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    Mute Mossy
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    Aug 11th 2019, 1:08 PM

    Getting sad at this stage

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Aug 11th 2019, 1:33 PM

    ‘Former Liverpool Boss’, ‘Ex Scotland International’, ‘Former Rangers and Newcastle Boss’.
    Think you leftout a few lads. what about Previous Galatasary legend, and ex Southampton flop?

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    Mute padar
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:23 PM

    @Ardmore02: I think he won trophies at every club he managed except for Newcastle

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:56 PM

    @padar: you can add torino, benfica and Southampton to that list.

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    Mute running man
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    Aug 11th 2019, 9:32 PM

    @Ardmore02: I,m old enough to remember him in his pomp playing for Liverpool, great midfielder, tough f….r, similar to Keane at Utd, (but not quiet as good). Some think he is a p…k, but can’t take away what he did as a player.

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    Mute Andrew Hennessy
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:08 PM

    Here we go and he hasn’t kicked a ball yet. That Souness is some fcukin spa

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 12:27 PM

    No utd must keep pogba coz as long as he’s there they’ll win f*** all

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Aug 11th 2019, 12:30 PM

    @Dan2078: already won trophies with pogba

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 1:39 PM

    @Brian Dunne: but have they won the trophies that matter – PL, champions league? And they won’t with Pogba. He is a good player but the prob is he thinks he’s better than he is

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    Mute IAmTheTruth
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:04 PM

    @Dan2078: the lad has won a bloody World Cup mate

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:12 PM

    @IAmTheTruth: he likes playing for France, has good players to carry him. Come back to me when he wins something of merit with utd and you have something insightful to contribute

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    Mute mark
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:55 PM

    @Dan2078: where is your cave at?

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    Mute Ruairi McEntegart
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:01 PM

    @Dan2078: Dan your argument is as pathetic as yourself

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:21 PM

    @mark: why, do u want to call over?

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:22 PM

    @Ruairi McEntegart: thanks, I love you too

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    Mute Martin McKenna
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:10 PM

    As a utd fan he’s dead right.
    .

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    Mute Stanley Baggins
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:13 PM

    Reminds me of when Dunphy had a personal vendetta against Cristiano. Calling him a clown and a spoofer every week as Ronaldo struggled yo find consistency. Dunphy labelled Linekar a clown for saying Ronaldo might be the world’s best. The when CR7 won his first Ballon D’Or, Dunphy made some embarrassing comment how he hated CR7 because he’s rich and good looking.
    I wonder what Sounness will say when Pogba wins a Ballon D’Or at Madrid? That the reason he hated him all along is because Pogba’s bird is way better than his own?

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Aug 11th 2019, 2:16 PM

    @Stanley Baggins: souness is no Dunphy; he knows what he’s talking about. Dunphy just made it up as he went (a true spoofer)

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Aug 11th 2019, 3:29 PM

    @Stanley Baggins: Ballon d’Ope will be the only thing pogba will win

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    Mute Darren Callaghan
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    Aug 11th 2019, 4:25 PM

    Stfu sourness no utd fan or employee of club gives a crap what u think

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