Bastareaud apologises for homophobic slur

Editor

Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud has apologised for verbally abusing Benetton lock Sebastian Negri during the Champions Cup match on Sunday.

Television footage appears to show Bastareaud using a homophobic insult towards Negri as the pair had an altercation in the closing stages of Toulon's 36-0 victory.

The 29-year-old, who recently made his return to the French fold after three years out of the national side, has apologised for his behaviour.

"I apologise for my reaction to insults from the Italian player. I reacted badly by responding to his provocation, I'm truly sorry for the people I might have hurt," Bastareaud wrote on his Twitter account. 

In a statement on Sunday, competition organisers European Professional Club Rugby said they "had received a citing complaint against the RC Toulon player, Mathieu Bastareaud".

It added: "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." 

Any disciplinary action taken against Bastareaud would likely threaten the burly centre's participation in the Six Nations, with France's opening game at home to Ireland on February 3.