Boudjellal in hot water over Bastareaud defence
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is facing an investigation by European Professional Club Rugby over comments he made in relation to Mathieu Bastareaud's verbal abuse of a Benetton player.
Toulon centre Bastareaud appeared to hurl a homophobic slur towards Sebastian Negri of Benetton during the Round Five Champions Cup clash.
Boudjellal came to the defence of Bastareaud, fearing his star centre would face a lengthy ban due to the alleged double standards of the EPCR.
"I’m worried,” he said. “What I fear is the Mormon side of the EPCR with the Welsh and the Irish. These are people who sell morality when they do not have it. The same people who have ministers who are whipped in private but considered ‘clean’ guys in public.”
Defending Bastareaud’s comments, he added: “In my view, we’re talking about an insult that has entered common language. At no point did Mathieu Bastareaud seek to make a judgment as to the sexual orientation of the player in question. It’s like when I call someone a son of a b . . . generally I don’t know his mother.
“I’m not homophobic either, but I have called someone a faggot. It has entered into common usage, it’s what comes to mind first in a row. But we’re in an age in which morality has taken on a great importance. As if people are incapable of understanding that, and to take things into consideration . . . the only area in which humour doesn’t have a place is paedophilia. What Mathieu said was a slip in the heat of the action.”
But now it is Boudjellal who appears to have overstepped the mark as it his comments that have provoked the wrath of the EPCR, with the organisation confirming that they have launched an investigation in to the controversial owner's comments.
"EPCR is currently carrying out an investigation into comments attributed to the President of RC Toulon, Mourad Boudjellal," read a statement on European Professional Club Rugby's official website.
"The comments in question were published on 14 January 2018 in an article on the website rugbyrama.fr regarding the alleged verbal abuse by Mathieu Bastareaud of a Benetton Rugby player during the Champions Cup, Round 5 match between RC Toulon and Benetton Rugby at Stade Félix Mayol.
"If EPCR considers that the reported comments amount to misconduct under its Disciplinary Rules, it may bring a disciplinary charge against Mr Boudjellal.
"No further communication will be issued in relation to this matter until the investigation has concluded."