ITALY INTERNATIONAL PROP Martin Castrogiovanni has been suspended by Racing 92 for missing the club’s trip to Nottingham for the Champions Cup semi-final win over Leicester last weekend in order to visit Las Vegas with Paris Saint-Germain players.
An official statement from the Top 14 club confirmed the 34-year-old’s suspension today, and said that they have launched a legal procedure.
Racing’s statement reads as follows:
“Following the publication of photographs in the media today showing Martin Castrogiovanni in the company of Paris Saint-Germain footballers [last] weekend at a hotel in Las Vegas, while the entire membership of the club was in Nottingham to play a semi-final of the European Cup, Racing 92 has decided to suspend the player and to launch a legal procedure.”
French newspaper L’Équipe reports that Castrogiovanni had been excused from Racing’s trip to take on Leicester on account of citing a family problem in Argentina that required him to travel to South America.
Instead, Castrogiovanni was photographed in Las Vegas with the likes of PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and now finds his future with Racing in serious doubt after the images surfaced in the French media.
The Italian prop joined Racing from Toulon last year, having previously played his club rugby with Leicester for seven years. Castrogiovanni has 119 caps for Italy.
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Hahahaha, what a boss.
Best. Headline. Ever
Missing a league game could be excused but a Euro semi final. He will have plenty of time in a couple of years to visit wherever he likes
Missing a league game could be excused? No bloody chance – it is what he is paid to do. Lying to his employer, too: should be sacked immediately.
You have never took a day off work and lied about the reason?
Was he fit to play? This is gold!
Brian , just goes to show you that he does not give a shit about the club he is playing for , only there for the money , a European cup semi final against his old club and he goes on the piss in Vegas .
Brian Les – if I lied in order to take an unwarranted day off on a crucial day for my employer, and I was caught, I would expect to be seriously reprimanded, possibly sacked. Wouldn’t you?
Do you think it is remotely acceptable for a pro rugby player who is highly paid to play for his club a maximum of 35 times per year (something Castro rarely manages) to bunk off when they are in the Champions Cup Semi Final? Would have been ok with it if, say, BJ Botha had done it in 2014 when Munster faced Toulon, or perhaps Cian Healy in 2012 before facing Clermont in the semis?
You don’t seem bold enough to bunk a day off work Brian .
I wasn’t defending him. When I said a league game I meant a game of less importance than a Euro Cup semi. This is far worse than what Agbonlahore was at.
To be fair, he wasn’t actually selected for the game and was supposed to travel to Nottingham for the semi final with the rest of the squad who weren’t picked. Still poor form but it wasn’t like he was going to be playing.
How often do we see a player get injured in a warm up etc and the 24th man has to step in? Castro has screwed up, big time.
Mind you, maybe this is a logical effect of the mercenary approach that the likes of Racing take
Martin Quinn
Martin well said , a total disrespect for his team mates and his club who pay him a big salary , he is suppose to be a pro , far from it doing something like that , out the door no questions asked and I wonder who in there right mind would hire him after that , no one man bigger than a team and club
If you don’t laugh at this you’re taking life too seriously..
I love Martin as much as the next man. But he should be fired in an instant for this offense. Disrespectful breach of contract.
Gas man! I’d say he’d lash some beer out if it!!
So much for What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, Seriously if he did that for your team you would want hin sacked
Definitely. I think it’s hilarious, but I wouldn’t excuse it for a second.
He would definitely have gotten away with it if he wasn’t with Zlatan. Nobody would know Castro but everyone knows Zlatan.
He’s a rough man to tame. Many have tried..all failed lol.
Himself and mayler should be tied together , what do some guys be thinking
Fecking power of social media and the auld camera phone
A lad can’t even ring in sick for a European semi final and head for Vegas without being all over Twitter …
Sad indictment of modern society
Weekend in Nottingham sitting in the stands. Weekend in Vegas with Zlatan no brainer. Life is far too short. Rock on Castro. Get a life Brian and Co. Racing did fine without him.
He probably just didn’t want to play against his old team:)
He could pass as Alan from the hangover