Matthieu Ugalde, for shame. For absolute shame.
Media outlets are playing it safe. They’re posing the question, asking IF this was indeed an eye gouge. It doesn’t look good, and all that. He hasn’t been convicted yet, we can’t jump to any conclusions.
Well, do you know what? To hell with that.
What happened on Sunday in Grenoble was downright disgusting.
Armand Batlle goes over for a try to extend the hosts’ lead. Fact. Matthieu Ugalde blatantly sticks a finger in his eye. Fact.
Grenoble won 36-23 in the Top 14 clash and it was a game of bad blood all round.
VIDEO: Top 14 clash descends into bloody chaos with almighty brawl https://t.co/9m7P4TfAeV
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 11, 2016
Coming-togethers turned to handbags and handbags turned to schemozzles. Then, pure filth. Outrage.
As eye gouges go, Ugalde’s on Batlle’s was right up there with the worst. It looked deliberate, he seemed to seek it out with his finger, it was extended and horrifically nasty.
Naturally, the reaction has been explosive.
People are calling for extensive bans for Ugalde and you can certainly see why.
Absolutely disgusting from Mathieu Ugalde. Ban him for the season, make him pay for that. Coward. https://t.co/bSv1LtAncs
— Mikey Roberts 🏴 (@mikeyroberts81) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/brmwgn/status/774950863794081795
There’s no place for that in rugby.
