Bastareaud admits lie after CCTV evidence

Eurosport - Fri, 26 Jun 09:31:00 2009

Mathieu Bastareaud admitted lying about being attacked only after being confronted with CCTV evidence, according to local police.

RUGBY France bastareaud - 0

Bastareaud, who is facing disciplinary sanctions, claimed he had been attacked by up to five people as he returned to the team hotel early last Sunday following a 14-10 loss to New Zealand in Wellington.

The 20-year-old player admitted he had fallen in his hotel room after coming back drunk only after being told of CCTV footage which showed him showing him returning uninjured early Sunday morning, Wellington area commander Inspector Peter Cowan told Radio New Zealand.

"Mr Bastareaud hasn't come out and apologised out of the goodness of his heart, this has been a strategy from us," Cowan said.

The French Rugby Federation earlier said it would begin an inquiry into the matter, for which Bastareaud was sent home early from the team's tour of New Zealand and Australia.

"Pierre Camou, president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), wishes to apologise to the people of New Zealand and to the New Zealand Federation," the FFR said in a statement.

"New Zealand and the rugby world must have legitimately felt hurt by the player's initial statements which also harm the image of French rugby," the FFR statement read.

Bastareaud made the claim of being attacked out of fear he would be disciplined for the injury, the French daily L'Equipe claimed.

"I just talked to Mathieu. He came back to his hotel under the influence of alcohol, he stumbled and fell," his club Stade Francais president Max Guazzini told the paper.

"In the morning, he got scared of the consequences it could have with the team's management."

The New Zealand Rugby Union, which had earlier in the week made an apology to Bastareaud over the attack, said in a statement it was outraged over the story, which came ahead of the country hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

"Like all New Zealanders, I am extremely disappointed with this series of events and will be expressing that concern to the French Rugby Federation," chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement.

"We share the concerns of Wellington City Mayor Kerry Prendergast and Wellington Area Police at the distress, negative publicity and the unnecessary concern this has caused for many people - and will be talking further about this with the FFR," he said.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 20 of 20

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  1. Let's be honest about this. How the hell did anyone­ believe that it would take 5 NZ's to beat up a­ Frenchman. He would have surrendered long before the­ fight started.

    From BigRich, on Fri 26 Jun 9:08AM

  2. Drunken mistake or not, the idiot accused people of NZ­ of attacking him and injuring him. The act of lying,­ in itself, was stupid and infantile. That said, he­ isn't the 1st, and he most definitely won't be­ the last. What a pillock!!!!

    From Edgar, on Fri 26 Jun 8:50AM

  3. The French Federation announced they were pressing­ charges against him, you can be sure he'll be­ heavily sanctionned. His lie will cost him a lot, pity­ for a talented 20 year old who made the mistake of­ having a drink too much.... It could go as far as­ costing his place in the squad for the RWC, with­ Jauzion, Fritz, Traille, Mermoz, Marty and David,­ competition is fierce at #12 & 13.

    I can­ understand Kiwis feel hurt, but as far as I remember,­ no charges were pressed by the French delegation after­ the report he had been "assaulted" , and I­ don't remember anyone blaming Wellington for it­ (everyone agreed it could have happened­ "anywhere").

    Therefore don't you think­ "outrage" is a little too strong? Have you­ never had a drink too much when you were young? This­ guy told his lie (which I don't condone) to avoid­ sanctions from his delegation, he was obviously too­ drunk to think things could get any more­ complicated.

    What he did was wrong, and French­ officials have issued apologies and made part of their­ deception (which I fully share), but altogether I have­ a hard time picturing this as anything other than a­ stupid, drunken mistake.

    From po_drevillon, on Fri 26 Jun 8:35AM

  4. Does anyone believe the fall on the coffee table story­ either?

    From STEPHEN L, on Fri 26 Jun 8:27AM

  5. He'll soon be forgiven - too good a player for a­ lengthy ban.

    From Donald D, on Fri 26 Jun 8:26AM

  6. ninja_king_returns #12

    No.

    From Donald D, on Fri 26 Jun 8:25AM

  7. Shame .. and he looks such a pleasant honest young man­ in the pic above lol
    apt name though ....

    From Yottie, on Fri 26 Jun 8:09AM

  8. Shame .. and he looks such a pleasant honest young man­ in the pic above lol
    apt name though ....

    From Yottie, on Fri 26 Jun 8:09AM

  9. Hmm comparing the rainbow warrior bombing which was an­ act of terriosm by the french government compared to­ bottle throwing by about 2 % of the total crowd in the­ terrice which is made up of drunk 18-19 year old otago­ uni student. Dont anyone give a speech about NZ fans­ until you take a long hard look in the mirror at your­ own psychotic fan base ... do you want me to go on

    From ninja_king_returns, on Fri 26 Jun 5:03AM

  10. Hey G , the steets of Paris and London are far worse­ than any streets in NZ. And our bottle throwing fans­ dont go around after the match looking for rival fans­ to beat up nor do we do racist chants like your fans ,­ you are an ar.sehole w.anker c.unt,

    From ninja_king_returns, on Fri 26 Jun 4:59AM

  11. lol Joe. What a @#$%, and the Kiwis were so embarassed­ and apologetic about it.

    From ddubdrahcir, on Fri 26 Jun 2:29AM

  12. Hey "Joe" how about an apology for the­ bottles thrown at the French team when they did their­ lap of the pitch? Mathieu's confession doesn't­ make the streets of New Zealand any safer to walk at­ night.

    From G, on Fri 26 Jun 12:02AM

  13. in France, we are appalled by behaviour of this player.­ Which shame. I think that he is going to be punished­ for this ridiculous and pathetic lie

    From Patrice C, on Thu 25 Jun 7:37PM

  14. Easy there Joe. its not the U.N.

    From Ads A, on Thu 25 Jun 5:44PM

  15. The lying Bastareaud

    From Ads A, on Thu 25 Jun 5:43PM

  16. Haha. Ain't this William Gallas is relative? Oh­ boy.

    From GullyGang, on Thu 25 Jun 5:14PM

  17. worried about the reprecussions?!?! what about these­ reprecussions?
    Bastar-eaud
    apt name now then

    From moggie2727, on Thu 25 Jun 5:06PM

  18. What a p%&t!

    New Zealanders felt really bad about­ this and called for independant enquiry into player­ safety...
    Guy only got boozed up and fell over his own­ clumsy feet.
    You owe us an apology and while your at it­ a Sorry about the Rainbow Warrior wouldnt go a miss

    From Joe, on Thu 25 Jun 4:55PM

  19. hahah that was funny!

    From gerrardrommy14, on Thu 25 Jun 4:47PM

  20. good man on the bottle or should it be BOTTLES......

    From Damien, on Thu 25 Jun 3:57PM
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