The National Rugby League (LNR) did not directly address the comments made on the evening of the defeat against Bordeaux (29-37, 10th day), on November 23, where Jean-Noël Spitzer argued that the clubs were not “not arbitrated in the same way based on their status”. RC Vannes and its head coach regretted it four days later, in a press release and at a press conference. But, in a rare occurrence, the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Florian Grill announced his intention to refer the matter to the LNR Disciplinary and Regulations Commission, which finally summoned the technician this Wednesday, January 8.
Already sanctioned at the start of the season
What does Jean-Noël Spitzer risk? The Breton coach had never been worried until then for his outings, however frequent, against the French refereeing in Pro D2. But this summer he received a six-week suspension, which deprived him of the bench during his team’s first five matches in the Top 14, for having “disrupted the smooth running” of an anti-doping test last season. Here again, it was the FFR and the LNR who referred the matter to the commission, whose hearing was held more than three months after the events.
Two to six weeks for Mignoni and O’Gara
Known for his violent attacks against refereeing, La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara was sentenced at the end of 2022 by the same commission to ten weeks of suspension and his club to a €20,000 fine. But it was the fifth decision handed down against them in the space of two seasons: the Irishman had already been sanctioned twice for two weeks, then six weeks, always for inappropriate comments or gestures towards the refereeing body or officials.
For the same reasons, Toulon manager Pierre Mignoni was suspended for six weeks this season: “nine weeks reduced to six after taking into account mitigating circumstances (recognition of guilt and conduct before and during the hearing)”, had justified the disciplinary committee in its decision.
Morocco
