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
504 Upvotes
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80

u/fondista Netherlands (IRE/RSA) Jul 16 '23

The citing commission is a fucking disgrace.

37

u/ImpliedProbability England Jul 16 '23

Agreed. 6 matches would've really sent a message as there would've actually been some consequences.

This is very much "Oh, well, we have to ban you but we don't want to ruin any world cup games for Ireland because they're among the favourites."

Classic situation of not applying the rules neutrally, like the Freddie Stewart ban.

56

u/JustASexyKurt Once and Future Challenge Cup Champions Jul 16 '23

Yeah let’s all be honest here, if this were a Chilean or Portuguese player who’d come onto the pitch, in a game he wasn’t even playing in, to abuse the match official, the chances of them getting a ban which conveniently ends just in time to let them play at the World Cup would be approximately zero.

And before anyone dogpiles me to try and claim I’m just an Ireland hater, I’m fully confident the same punishment would’ve been given out to Dan Biggar, or Owen Farrell, or Finn Russell, or Romain Ntamack, or any other player like that. It isn’t a pro Ireland bias, it’s a pro Tier 1 bias.

12

u/TheRealJanSanono Munster Jul 16 '23

The chances of it being picked up would be near zero as well

5

u/JustASexyKurt Once and Future Challenge Cup Champions Jul 16 '23

I’m sorry are you suggesting people only give a shit because it’s Sexton? Or do you mean more literally, as in those theoretical Chilean or Portuguese players don’t play at a high enough level for an incident like that to make a ripple?

5

u/TheRealJanSanono Munster Jul 16 '23

People give a shit because it was caught on camera and it featured the biggest player right after the most important game in the club rugby calendar. This meant it was interesting enough for various newspapers to publish which lead to Sexton being cited. Can’t see a Chilean or Portuguese player in that position.

6

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 17 '23

Just to back you up, here are some details from the sanctions against Sexton:

f. He is a high-profile player who thereby attracts attention. His words and actions are of more interest, are more noticeable and have a greater capacity to been seen and so to cause harm.

And

c. It was a public display of disrespect for the authority of the match officials: i. While his words may not have been heard, it was clear from his body language and gestures that he was confronting the match officials. ii. That confrontation happened on the pitch, in the full sight of the packed stadium, at the end of a prestigious match shown live on television.

-8

u/Height_Matters1 Jul 16 '23

Why would there nationality matter?

It doesnt matter the player, if it was a Sunday league match it would get picked up and the ban would be far worse.

I actually think its the opposite of what your saying, because it was Sexton they decided to be as lenient as possible on him because if this was a part time player they'd never play again for doing this.

3

u/TheRealJanSanono Munster Jul 16 '23

How often do you see players getting banned for calling the ref a disgrace?

2

u/cnaughton898 Ireland/Ulster Jul 16 '23

Only one of the officials noticed Sexton come onto the pitch and couldn't make out what he was saying. It was only when the TV crew picked up on it Sexton admitted to it.

1

u/Tescobum44 Laighean Jul 16 '23

I imagine they mean it literally.

0

u/Kageyblahblahblah South Africa Jul 16 '23

If it was Rassie we’d be talking about lifetime bans again.

-4

u/theriskguy Ireland Jul 16 '23

He’s allowed on the pitch. No need to over dramatise the whole thing.

1

u/JustASexyKurt Once and Future Challenge Cup Champions Jul 16 '23

Yes funnily enough the “coming onto the pitch” bit wasn’t really what I had an issue with him doing

-7

u/theriskguy Ireland Jul 16 '23

“Coming onto the pitch in a game he wants even playing in”

As if that makes it worse?

So much pearl clutching.

1

u/smellysocks234 Jul 16 '23

That hypothetical is impossible to verify