Zebre hooker Oliviero Fabiani has been cited following the straight red card he receiving for BITING Connacht lock Quinn Roux during their European Champions Cup match this past weekend. He will appear before an independent disciplinary hearing in London.
It was ultimately a one-sided contest that got even easier for Connacht after this awful incident in the first half, when hooker Fabiani and second rower Roux got in a tangled mess on the floor.
For some reason Fabiani sunk his teeth into the arm of South African Roux, causing a very clear bitemark that referee Mathieu Raynal referenced a few minutes later.
Roux showed it to him as a scuffle broke out, and while the TMO wasn't able to find a conclusive angle at the time, Raynal had enough evidence to brandish the red card, admonishing Fabiani in the process.
"We don't want to have that on the rugby pitch. You're biting the player clearly on the arm, so it will be a red card," the French referee calmly explained.
The hooker will no doubt be banned for a very long time, as regardless of provocation, Raynal's words must be echoed as we simply cannot have that happen on a rugby pitch.
There was allegedly a punch from Roux, either before or after the bite, but that was overlooked as footage wasn't conclusive and the officials naturally felt the bite was far more serious.
Connacht went on to win the match 52-7.
ALSO CITED:
Munster's Keith Earls will face a disciplinary hearing after his dangerous tackle against Glasgow Warriors, as will Brive lock Johan Snyman, after he committed a dangerous tackle against Worcester.
*updated: longer video of the incident below, with edits showing the bite