Rugby star Chabal faces suspension

INTERNATIONAL rugby star Sébastien Chabal has been suspended by his club, Racing-Metro, awaiting a disciplinary decision over remarks attacking French referees.

Interviewed in Le Journal du Dimanche Chabal said that the referees for Top 14 (France’s top rugby league) games were “useless”. He said: “They drive me mad. There are only two or three who are professional.”

Chabal also claimed they are biased in favour of the clubs of Castres, which was for many years led by current president of the French rugby league Pierre-Yves Revol, and Biarritz, whose president is Revol’s predecessor Serge Blanco.

He said: “It’s true, there was a match against Castres last year for example, where everyone saw it.”

The comments were made in the context of Chabal promoting his new autobiography My Little Star.

Mr Revol said that his comments were “insulting” and “unacceptable”. He and the FFR, which is responsible for refereeing, applied to rugby’s national disciplinary committee.

He added: “I am indifferent about his insinuations about myself, but as a representative of the league I can’t accept that such attacks should be made on French referees.”

Chabal has been suspended from Racing-Metro until May 11 and/or until the disciplinary committee comes to a decision. He risks a suspension, which comes as France’s World Cup squad are about to be announced on May 11 and the final phase of the Top 14 competition is coming up.

Photo:Zegreg63