‘He is in no way homophobic’ – EPCR and Toulon release statements after Bastareaud’s homophobic slur

Mathieu Bastareaud, the Toulon captain and France centre, is facing an EPC Rugby investigation after he was caught on microphone calling Benetton Treviso flanker Sebastian Negri a 'faggot' during Toulon's 36-0 win on Saturday.

Bastareaud could be heard using the slur on referee Luke Pearce's microphone and was cited for the incident by match Citing Commissioner, Dennis Jones (Wales).  https://twitter.com/bencoles_/status/952569623559499776 The French international could potntially miss the Six Nations, depending on the length of the suspension, if he is found guilty at his upcoming independent Disciplinary Hearing. An EPCR statement on the incident reads:

Bastareaud is alleged to have verbally abused a Benetton Rugby player in the 80th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12. The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Dennis Jones (Wales).  Law 9.12 Verbal abuse of a player carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 6 weeks; Mid-range: 12 weeks; Top end: 18 to 52 weeks.  Details of the independent Disciplinary Hearing and any other disciplinary matters arising from Round 5 of EPCR’s competitions will be announced as soon as practicable.

Toulon have also released a statement on the incident and claim that the player made the comments under a state of 'aggravation', and that he is apparently in no way homophobic. The Toulon statement reads:

EPCR have launched an investigation following the remarks made by Mathieu Bastareaud towards a Benetton Treviso player on Sunday afternoon at Mayol for the fifth round of the Champions Cup. Following the game, Mathieu Bastareaud apologised personnally by stating « I would like to apologise for reacting to being insulted by an italian player, I reacted badly to this provocation and I am extremely sorry if I have hurt people ». Rugby Club Toulonnais would like to remind everyone that the Club has always advocated and defended differences between individuals and the respect of these differences. The RCT is convinced that Mathieu used these unfortunate comments whilst in a state of aggravation, as can happen regularly during a game of rugby and that he is not at all homophobic. This kind of language should not allow people to condemn our captain who has always defended the rich diversity between individuals and proves it every day within our heterogeneous group of players.

Despite Toulon's moral determination of who should and who should not be allowed to condemn Bastareaud for his use of the slur, a numbr of former players  and journalists chimed in to condemn the France international. https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/952575260473413632 https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/952621380075474944 https://twitter.com/matt9dawson/status/952607281144913921 https://twitter.com/JLyall93/status/952596095271620610 https://twitter.com/JBradleyBT/status/952571135241129986 https://twitter.com/bencoles_/status/952569623559499776 https://twitter.com/nickheathsport/status/952621968964059137