Rugby fans have reacted with disgust to what they saw as a deliberate eye gouge in a Top 14 game at the weekend.
The game between Grenoble and Brive was a bad-tempered affair, with three red cards shown after a brawl broke out as the referee blew the whistle for halftime.
Bel hommage à la bagarre Keselowski Gordon de 2014 #FCGCAB pic.twitter.com/Sqqadhv2nP
— Maxime. (@MaximeB92) September 11, 2016
Crazy scenes! 3 red cards shown to Grenoble's duo Taumalolo & Hunt and Brive's Jourdain. Incredible mêlèe. #Top14 #FCGCAB
— LYY (@brmwgn) September 11, 2016
But things got even uglier in the second half, after Grenoble’s Armand Batlle went over for a try.
Opposition player Mathieu Ugalde appeared to gouge Batlle’s eye socket, with cameras catching the incident from two angles.
Fans of the game were unimpressed, with many calling for a lengthy or even lifetime ban for the player. The Top 14 disciplinary committee have yet to make any decision in relation to the incident.
Sad to see this disgusting foul play from a promising player like Ugalde. A huge ban is coming for him. #FCGCAB https://t.co/CEx7CcqqeM
— LYY (@brmwgn) September 11, 2016
@Murray_Kinsella @thepaulwilliams This has to be a life ban!!! Not just one attempt to gouge him, he keeps going for it....terrible!!!
— Nick Healy (@NickHealy15) September 12, 2016
Grenoble went on to win 36-23, but it’s a game that will be remembered more for these moments than the scoreline.
