Stade Francais scrum-half Jerome Fillol has been banned for 14 weeks for spitting at Peter Stringer, a ban that was reduced because of ‘mitigating factors’.
By Declan Whooley
The French number nine was caught on camera spitting at his opposite number during the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at the weekend after referee Nigel Owens missed the incident at the time and was cited.
At the disciplinary meeting in Dublin today, Fillol admitted to the charge of committing an act contrary to good sportsmanship. Independent judicial officer, England’s Anthony Davis, found Fillol had been guilty of “an intentional, deliberate and grave act”.
Davis decided the offence warranted a top-end entry point in terms of punishment and considered 26 weeks as his punishment base before applying 12 weeks’ mitigation, taking into account his “genuine remorse and his exemplary record and strong character references”.
Fillol’s suspension will take into account the closed season, covering a 10-week period from April 6 until June 16 and then another four weeks between July 15 and August 11, which means that even if Stade go on to win the Amlin, he will miss a maximum of five games in total for his despicable act.
To many observers it will seem a punishment not befitting of the crime.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
