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Sun 7 Apr 2013 | 07:00
Stade Francais' Jerome Fillol spits in Peter Stringer's face

50
Comments

Bath crashed out of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 36-20 quarter final loss to Stade Francais at the Rec on Saturday, but it was a shocking spitting incident in the first half that claimed all the headlines. Peter Stringer has since said that he was 'disgusted'.

Stade Francais scored some lovely tries in their dismantling of the home side but this incident soured affairs regardless of the result. It occured when Stringer and Fillol got in a bit of a tangle after the whistle, and despite competitive tussles between halfbacks being the norm, there appeared to be no real reason for such a filthy reaction.

After the game Stringer said: "Obviously it is a bit raw at the moment, but it happened on the pitch and there is no place in the game for it. That's as low as you can probably go. When you are on the end of something like that you are rattled by it, but try not to dwell on it. It's out of my hands now."

The former Ireland number nine was livid but kept his cool, telling referee Nigel Owens what happened. Owens' response was something along the lines of "I can only deal with what I see".

Stringer took to Twitter this morning, clearly still unhappy about Fillol's behaviour.

Fans will be hoping appropriate action is taken, which we will find out about tomorrow. Independant citing officer Eugene Ryan, from Ireland, has 50 hours from kick-off to make his decision.

Brett Gosper, CEO of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Tweeted: "Spitting on Stringer should be punished to the full extent of the law. #NotRugby"

UPDATE: Fillol has been suspended for 14 weeks. Read all the hearing details here

Posted By: Grant Constable

50 Comments

  • matt
    3:31 PM 14/04/2013

    However I think he should have got the 52 weeks. Either that or shot, no place for scum like this

  • matt
    3:30 PM 14/04/2013

    No, he also misses any chance of playing in the international tours, and misses the pre season too, the time in the summer where there is no rugby is not included in the ban, did you actually read the article?

  • drg
    4:55 AM 14/04/2013

    Wow, browner threw in a comment which isn't completely one dimensional and one sided.... There's a first for everything.

  • totesmcgoates
    4:41 PM 12/04/2013

    You have to consider that most of the 14 weeks will be in the off season.

  • totesmcgoates
    4:38 PM 12/04/2013

    So, he gets banned for the remaining five fixtures in le Top 14 and potentially two games in the ECC?? Then the rest of the ban is in the off season. Not enough from my POV.

  • ajb
    11:09 AM 12/04/2013

    Apparently there is history of this between them. According to The Times today, Fillol spat on Stringer during an U-21 international in 1999.

    And apparently Fillol's remorse did include crying during the hearing

  • ajb
    11:09 AM 12/04/2013

    Apparently there is history of this between them. According to The Times today, Fillol spat on Stringer during an U-21 international in 1999.

    And apparently Fillol's remorse did include crying during the hearing

  • 11:25 PM 11/04/2013

    It's a disgusting thing to do and there's never any excuse for such behaviour.

    I'm confused by the length of the ban though, how is it that this offence get's a longer ban than many potentially dangerous incidents on the pitch?

    I'm not excusing what he did in any way but for the sake of the players who've suffered due to things such as malicious and illegal hits this just makes no sense no sense to me.

  • rugbydump
    7:01 PM 11/04/2013

    UPDATE: Fillol has been suspended for 14 weeks. Read all the hearing details here

  • hedderball
    11:23 PM 10/04/2013

    Totally agree and what's interesting about that particular episode is the early signs of soccer player behaviour from Fillol in the way he writhed on the ground like he had been shot. I suppose we should have seen this coming.

  • caramackid
    11:03 PM 09/04/2013

    Absolutely right I am just watching this with my son trying to explain how despicable and revolting this act is. I can confirm having been spat on myself in the early 80's ( I was a nasty obnoxious second row who gave out to the opposition and usually got it in the neck) your supposition and recollection of events is what occurred . I am pleased to say the offender( Greenock academy back) was rucked until he bled!
    No place in the game give him a years ban

    Cmkd

  • caramackid
    11:03 PM 09/04/2013

    Absolutely right I am just watching this with my son trying to explain how despicable and revolting this act is. I can confirm having been spat on myself in the early 80's ( I was a nasty obnoxious second row who gave out to the opposition and usually got it in the neck) your supposition and recollection of events is what occurred . I am pleased to say the offender( Greenock academy back) was rucked until he bled!
    No place in the game give him a years ban

    Cmkd

  • shanewolfe
    10:46 PM 09/04/2013

    sick scumbag!! i wish stringer knocked him out

  • danknapp
    9:35 PM 09/04/2013

    That's a really good point, it's not like there was anything unusual from Stringer... Crazy reaction to a pretty standard piece of defensive play. I hope the lack of any obvious wind-up means he gets a longer ban. None of this 'previous good behaviour' bollocks.

  • 8:06 PM 09/04/2013

    He should get a year for that kind of behaviour.

  • browner
    4:05 PM 09/04/2013

    Now he should keep out ...... politics !

  • browner
    4:03 PM 09/04/2013

    yes, I've been told the same, hense NO couldn't get help ......

    I'd like to see TMO for these kinda things, but i'm also aware that it will open the floodgates for all players to start complaining about many things, so i can see a downside

  • stroudos
    7:51 AM 09/04/2013

    I can't stop watching that slow-motion of Cudmore clotheslining the cheating little prick. Over and over again, it just doesn't seem to get boring.

  • ravens6
    2:39 AM 09/04/2013

    If any player did that in a club match in Ireland or UK he would have got a slap from his own players, No place for that scumbag in Rugby, Soccer wouldn't even have him. Stringer was the ultimate professional as usual and walked away, should add to the Ban as the stringer did not provoke or retaliate. Hope it's a 52week ban. that will send the message.

  • 12:38 AM 09/04/2013

    Indeed ConnachtMan that is what we as Rugby people must rage against. This kind of behavious cannot be allowed, that is what separates us from the ridiculousness of football...

  • kadova
    11:08 PM 08/04/2013

    Sorry i meant .....a player who spat on a female spectator got....

  • kadova
    11:08 PM 08/04/2013

    Disgusting !
    I just read in an Irish paper a player who spat on gtot a 1 year ban. I want the same for Fillol.

    On a side note, it looked that Parisse never insulted the referee in THAT incident. Ref complained Parisse said F*** off but Parisse was speaking in italian, not in english...

  • cheyanqui
    10:55 PM 08/04/2013

    Sure the head of the IRB is calling for 52 weeks..

    But "remorse" usually gets a few weeks shaved off.

    And in the IRB world, you can show remorse by being sorry you got caught, it doesn't seem that you actually have to be sorry for what you did.

  • colombes
    8:55 PM 08/04/2013

    Fresh news: Reasonably, Fillol have been cited by ERC for his spitting

    Few french haters and all rugby lovers are relieved
    Llamas are said to be scandalized by this decision

  • cheyanqui
    8:14 PM 08/04/2013

    I miss the old days, where if this was missed, the two captains and the ref would have huddled together and either the ref or the Bath captain would have said to Parisse:

    "Sergio. We know something happened, and something got missed. In the interest of the game, and your players' safety, I strong suggest that #9 may have injured himself (i.e. before tactical subs, you could only sub injuries) at the next stoppage of play.

    I would hate to be looking the other way at the next breakdown, and see you #9 come out of it with his back looking like a meat grinder crossed over it. But I only have two eyes to watch 30 players. I just might not see something. After all, I may have just missedd something now.

  • reality
    7:22 PM 08/04/2013

    I'm with everyone else here. That was one of the most atrocious acts I've ever seen on a rugby pitch. I hope he gets made an example of. And as several people have said, what did he even do it for? He got tackled legally and fairly, so he spits in the guys face? No mitigating circumstances whatsoever, so no excuse at all.

    And I'm not a fan of Stringer at all, but he reacted incrediby well, considering what had happened. Hats off to him.

  • canadian15
    7:10 PM 08/04/2013

    Challenge Cup is not part of the TMO extended power trials which is why he did not refer the incident upstairs

  • canadian15
    7:09 PM 08/04/2013

    Challenge Cup*

  • stubby
    6:14 PM 08/04/2013

    head of IRB is calling for full extent of the law which in this case is 52 weeks

  • canadian15
    5:52 PM 08/04/2013

    Heineken Cup is not part of the trial allowing TMOs to review foul play.

  • browner
    5:37 PM 08/04/2013

    Ban him , & then transfer to Paris St Germain !

    I'm constantly amazed at the 'line of acceptablity' by some commentators on this site
    Stamping , dropping on head, arms smashing through necks and faces , even gouging & arm breaking seem to be all more acceptable than spitting in the sanction level demanding of some.

    Stringer has gone up in my respect, for his control , but we all know that the reactors get more punishment than the catalysts in most occassions, so he was on a hiding to nothing if he'd reacted.

    This is a classic instance of when Video/TV replays have massive value to rid our sport of this crap..





  • matt
    2:33 PM 08/04/2013

    I was thinking exactly the same thing. It wasn't as if Stringer was making a trivial complaint either.

  • matt
    2:31 PM 08/04/2013

    Everyone likes seeing a pesky scrum half put in their place, but you do that in the open and in a way that lays down the law about how far you're willing to let them push things. Spitting at him is the exact opposite of this.

  • matt
    2:31 PM 08/04/2013

    Everyone likes seeing a pesky scrum half put in their place, but you do that in the open and in a way that lays down the law about how far you're willing to let them push things. Spitting at him is the exact opposite of this.

  • connachtman
    12:01 PM 08/04/2013

    The slippery slope to football continues, ...ban him.

  • 8:30 AM 08/04/2013

    Ok Nigel why didn't u use the video ref option? A quick word with the boys upstairs when u r told this happened and he'd have been issued a red card surely. If he finds out stringer is lying, he cards him. He option is there, should it not be used?

  • 4:15 AM 08/04/2013

    Put him between a couple of front rows ... we will sort out the nasty little banker

  • totesmcgoates
    2:33 AM 08/04/2013

    What gets me about this is that there was nothing in it to warrant Fillol's reaction. I'll never understand a rugby player who gets upset when he is tackled. Very disappointing.

  • poccio
    2:10 AM 08/04/2013

    my guess is unsportsmanlike conduct would surly cover it

  • poccio
    2:07 AM 08/04/2013

    very well said

  • moddeur
    1:44 AM 08/04/2013

    Ban him for a few months.

  • drg
    12:52 AM 08/04/2013

    Best part of this is the link below to Mo-sporting Jamie Cudmore giving little Fillol a bashing.

    Disgraceful behaviour as everyone has said. I agree, I'd rather someone took a swing at me than tried to spit on me.

  • canadian15
    12:50 AM 08/04/2013

    That is just disgusting, says a lot about the character of both men. Excellent restraint showed by Stringer. If Fillol thinks that is any way to act in any situation at all then he needs a smack upside the head. What do you hope to prove by spitting at an opponent?

  • cheyanqui
    12:50 AM 08/04/2013

    Stringer is a Hall of Fame pest, at a rugby position where being a pest might be considered a specialist skill.

    Many guys have wanted to retaliate against Stringer over the years. I'm sure there is a list as long as the day is. IMHO, some level of retaliation is usually "deserved" (even if it's not smart for your team) against a pest of a scrumhalf. Troncon's punch was deserved -- even though it was not wise.

    But whatever Stringer might "deserve" put aside, the way an opponent chooses to retaliate reflects more on him than on Stringer.

    No one can explain to me how spitting on an opponent somehow makes you good in the eyes of the rugby Gods.

  • stroudos
    12:45 AM 08/04/2013

    Yes, got to hand to Stringer for keeping his cool. Personally I'd much rather have seen him unleash a flurry of punches.

  • canafrikaaner
    11:45 PM 07/04/2013

    Thats a disgraceful lack of sportsmanship. Why though? cause you tried to make a run and got stuffed like turkey?

  • colombes
    11:42 PM 07/04/2013

    Shit behaviour.
    Give Fillol a ban to learn him how to use his saliva in a better way.

    On a side note, any highlights of this SF victory or any other Amlin games?
    Some tries in these games were topclass

  • danknapp
    11:31 PM 07/04/2013

    Ban him. This is one of the worst things I've seen on here in a while. As someone commenting on facebook said about this, I'd rather be punched in the face than spat on. This should be a serious ban to send a message loud and clear to others.

    I thought the commentator got the tone absolutely right. Get him the **** out of here.

  • pocandrog
    11:26 PM 07/04/2013

    Strings is a legend and a gentlemen, it took a bug man not to react to that. Class personified Stringer as always. Crazy for Munster to loan him out

  • guy
    11:02 PM 07/04/2013

    Looks like something from the 'Dupuy-book-of-tricks-for-French-scrumhalfs'. With the proper footage I hope they will give him a minimum of 30 weeks. Filthy bastard!

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