AN ARGENTINIAN RUGBY player has been banned for three years following this shocking off the ball hit on a female referee during a league game in Italy.
Bruno Doglioli thundered through the back of referee Maria Benvenuti during Vicenza’s game against Padua last Sunday.
The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) announced on Thursday that Doglioli would be banned for three years — the heaviest punishment handed down in the last 20 years.
Vicenza captain Doglioli was shown a yellow card at the time, and Benvenuti went on to finish refereeing the match.
The incident was a “deliberate act of violence,” the FIR said, and reiterated its zero tolerance approach towards the abuse of match officials.
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He should have been arrested and charged with assault – that kind of sneaky, cowardly hit, from behind, could have done irreparable damage to her spine or neck.
Ya especially because a ref doesn’t have the added muscle protection of a rugby player (no mind a female one at that). What probably saved her was she was loose and not expecting it and her body rolled with it so to speak.
What the hell was going through that guys head
Just looked her up, she’s highly rated and at 23 has already reffed at 2014 WC and Rio 7s.
She finished the match and had to go to hospital afterwards with whiplash
A sly dirty $cumbag
Yeah yeah do what… It’s a ban, would this be such a story if it wasn’t a woman. All for equality. But the fact it has to brought up on the first place means that’s your thinking.
I said nothing of the referee being Female defining this story, it was the cowardly, cheap shot rightly resulting in a massive ban, the fact it’s a female ref who was attacked was a side-story.
Should be lifetime ban. You never attack the ref verbally never mind physically. Plus, this was a real sucker punch by a huge man on a much slighted woman. Skut.
*slighter
Should be lifetime ban. No questions. Bad enough if it was male ref but when it was a female ref…..
To be honest, if he was one of my team mates, id have gone balooba on him – partly because of him, screwing his own teammates by his insane action, but also because it was a cowardly attack on a blindsided woman contributing to their game.
Imo the fact that the ref was a woman does make it much worse though it shouldnt(equality etc)
It’s not really an equality issue John. It’s obvious a 17 stone rugby player could do more damage to a female as they are smaller in size and frame than males. What that guy was trying to prove is beyond me, did he think it’s a big joke a guy his size attacking a female ref? Like somebody said here already, he should have been done for assault.
Im fairly sure the club have expelled him, and refuse to let him play or train with them
Did he just completely lose the plot here ? Anyone know a bit more about the incident ? Or did he just randomly smash the ref for the craic of it ?
@Tom Doyle: It doesn’t really matter. There’s nothing she could have done that would deserve a sucker punch like that.
@Peter McKenna It’s obviously unjustifiable, there’s no excuse for it. I was just wondering what possessed him to do it, other than mindless savagery.
It doesn’t matter? He’s just asking a question we’re all thinking? Why in the world would he do something like that?
I’m starting to think head injuries and stuff he may have suffered because that is not a rational act
@Barry Newell & @Tom Doyle:
I assume he must have given some excuse that they only decided to give him a 3 year ban – after all, if this was a deliberate attack, then I don’t see how it isn’t a life time ban? But other than some issue with concussion, I can’t think of what excuse he would even begin to give.
Disgraceful, nice to see a severe punishment handed out.
Rochelle it’s not enough the man should be charged. Male or female is irrelevant but it does make it look worse.
Good hit
@Ian Zulvizill: comment of the week there lads. We can all go home, nobody’s going to beat that.
Disgusting. This savage should go to prison for 3 years.
Surely it should have been a mid level sanction given she was backing into him? Was the original ban 3years and one week but he got reduced for admittting guilt?
@john free:
World Rugby issued a statement saying there is a zero tolerance policy in regards to physical contact with the referee…….starting next week!
Hit her in the back too. Amongst other things, what an absolute coward
Coward and sneaky piece of dirt should never be allowed to put rugby Jersey on again nothing but dirt he is
Agree. And if he does it should be tore off his back
Untwist them kinckers there Brendan like a good girl. It’s only a joke.
And what a cracker of a joke it was.
She must have rejected him , what a prik he should be banned first life
Are u Hartley in disguise…. are u Hartley in disguise…
Cannot believe I just saw that, absolutely disgraceful behaviour from any sportsman never mind a rugby player. Hope the ref makes a full recovery and goes on to rid/red card this type of player from the game. Shocking
No club should ever give him a contract again once his ban is over.Let his career rot.
Was he colour blind but didn’t want it known?
fellow should be banned for life. What happened to the much vaunted “culture of respect” for refs in Rugby?