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French rugby league player punches referee unconscious

Player squares up to referee
Player squares up to referee

Footage has emerged online of a rugby league player knocking out a referee during a junior French Cup match between Saint-Esteve and Toulouse.

The Saint-Esteve player, who has yet to be named, squared up to referee Benjamin Casty after receiving a red card 25 minutes into the semi-final clash.

Player squares up to referee
Player squares up to referee

He then aimed a wild right hook at the official, which sent Casty to the ground.

Referee punches player
Referee punches player

When Toulouse players confronted the dismissed player, he began to attack them as well. 

Player punches |Toulouse players
Player punches |Toulouse players

The two sides became involved in a mass brawl, which caused the game to be abandoned.

Players brawl
Players brawl

Casty, who is the brother of Catalans Dragons prop Remi, was taken to hospital to treated for injuries to his jaw and cheekbone.

According to French reports, scans did not show there to have been a fracture. But Marc Palanques, president of the French Rugby League Federation, condemned the sickening incident.

“I hope that the National Disciplinary Commission, which will meet on Wednesday, will prove uncompromising ,” he said.

Saint-Esteve president Christian Cozza reportedly admitted that the offender had already been suspended for four matches earlier this season.

The footage was shared from the Twitter account of former South Africa Test cricketer and coach Allan Donald, who joined many in calling for a lifetime ban.

 

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