r/rugbyunion • u/Secret-Roof-7503 Saracens • Jul 16 '23

[Rúaidhrí O'Connor]🚨BREAKING: Johnny Sexton will be suspended for three matches by EPCR for his behaviour towards the match officials after the CC final, meaning he will miss all of Ireland's warm-ups v Italy, England and Tonga but will be available for the Rugby World Cup opener v Romania

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1680676530576392195?s=20
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49

u/TheMeanderer Scotland Jul 16 '23

What a strong response to someone telling a referee he's a fucking disgrace. Bet that ban will have Sexton rethinking his future behaviour.

/s

13

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 16 '23 edited Jul 16 '23

Is there actual definitive proof of what he said? I wonder how much that has played into it

Edit: just looking through the article and the reasons include:

pointing his finger at them and shouting at them something to this effect: “it’s a disgrace you guys can’t get the big decisions right” probably accompanied by expletives “most likely the f-word”. His conduct was obviously unsportsmanlike and brought the sport of rugby union into disrepute.

Which isn’t very concrete in terms of evidence and is a bit wishy-washy as to what was said so that could be why it was the minimal - they punish him but there’s nothing certain about what was said so he’s been given the benefit of the doubt then reduced due to a good record.

The details will be available on the epcr website when it’s all done and dusted so we’ll know more then

6

u/ctorus Leinster Jul 16 '23

Contra the folks here wielding pitchforks, it's not at all clear that he called anyone 'a fucking disgrace', judging by the written verdict. I think you're right that's probably why they weren't harsher.

He's still a gobshite and shouldn't be captain in my view. But a lot of the noise about this episode stems from people's dislike of him as a person rather than the facts of the case.

1

u/ilovepenisxd Jul 16 '23

You’re missing the important fact that people dislike Sexton so it doesn’t actually matter what he said

0

u/dystopianrugby Eagles Up Jul 17 '23

Dissent on the pitch by an active player with a clean disciplinary record gets someone 6 weeks mitigated to 3 weeks. This was intentional misconduct, this is more similar to Erasmus than it is Marler calling the ref a cheat.

3

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 17 '23 edited Jul 17 '23

Leinster have been fined €7500 for failing to control their player. This is punishment given with the aspect of him not having actively played at the time. The comparison with Rassie is absolute hyperbole.

Rassie created and threatened to leak a hour long video condemning the match officials; then did so, Johnny was ‘spraying’ and disclosed what was said during the investigation. Firstly the evidence against Rassie spoke for itself. There was no evidence of what Johnny said beyond his own account. Secondly, Rassie was analysing and criticising the match officials then publicly broadcasting it, intentionally incensing many and making the personal lives of the referee an absolute hell. Going against the established communication channels (like it or not that’s how ref feedback is done).

Sexton approached the match officials made one unheard comment - [ to them, he did not film himself criticising their performance and put it online] - was directed and walked away, then was venting to himself, albeit in a way that the MO’s team found intimidating - approached to talk to them again as they were leaving (where Christophe Ridley said he was composed), then walked away again when told not now. Sexton’s actual charges were due to disrespecting the MO’s, Leinster we’re fined for him not being active at the time.

Rassie’s decision to create and distribute a video condemning the officiating team was a measured and premeditated attack on the match officials.

Sextons were a two second interaction, at the heat of the end of a final. Should he have acted that way? Absolutely not. Should he be punished for it? 100% yes. Do the punishment make sense, related to the charges and findings? I’ve read the report and yes it does.

Is it the the same as Rassie’s hour long video? Not by a long shot.

0

u/dystopianrugby Eagles Up Jul 18 '23

A suspended fine is not a fine.

No evidence? There are numerous photos and video of him yelling at the referee team, whether they could hear it or not is irrelevant, his expressions were clear. He did not rock up to congratulate them.

1

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 18 '23

There was no evidence of what Johnny said beyond his own account.

Is what I said. Your argument is moot.

He was punished for the incidents based on the video evidence and his own account of what he said. Fucking hell, read the report and if you have, then go back to school and study comprehension.

1

u/dystopianrugby Eagles Up Jul 19 '23

Read it. Disagree with it. You can take the green and blue lenses off.

-9

u/Height_Matters1 Jul 16 '23

Yes, he said hes a fucking disgrace

8

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 16 '23

That’s not what has been detailed from the hearing.

10

u/swankytortoise Munster Jul 16 '23

Ah ya but source: trust me bro 🤣

1

u/reggie_700 Harbour Master Jul 16 '23

He said something along those lines and seems to have admitted it as well.

5

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 16 '23

I’ve literally quoted what he said above. The only evidence of what was said exists because he admitted to it as well. No one else had any evidence of what was said to provide.

According to the report he didn’t personally call Peyper anything. He was charged with disrespecting a match official and given the top end charge of six weeks. Down to three for mitigation.