Bastareaud takes to Twitter to address storm over 'homophobic slurs'

Toulon centre Matthieu Bastareaud has taken to social media to address allegations that he used homophobic slurs in his side’s European Champions Cup win over Treviso this afternoon.

European Professional Club Rugby (ECPR) have stated that they will review “an incident” after the Toulon centre appeared to direct a homophobic slur at the Benetton Treviso lock.

The ref mic picks up Bastareaud calling Treviso secondrow Sebastian Negri a ‘****ing f***ot’.

Bastareaud was angered by something Negri said to him in Toulon’s 36-0 European Champions Cup victory over the Italian side after both players got up from the ground at Stade Mayol.

Bastareud took to Twitter to apologise for his actions, writing: “Good evening everybody, I want to apologize to my response to the insults of the Italian Player.

“I reacted badly in responding to his provocation, I am sincerely sorry for the people I hurt.”

Bonsoir tout le monde,
Je tiens à m’excuser de ma réaction aux insultes du joueur Italien.
J’ai mal réagi en répondant à sa provocation, j’en suis sincèrement navré pour les personnes que j’ai pu blesser.

— Mathieu Bastareaud (@BastaOfficiel) January 14, 2018

Andy Goode was commentating on the match and pulled him up on his comments on air, before he too took to Twitter to call on the ECPR to ‘throw the book’ at the French centre.

https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/952565159528189952

The ECPR have said in a statement: ““EPCR has been made aware of an incident towards the end of today’s RC Toulon v Benetton Rugby Champions Cup match.” an EPRC statement said.

“This incident will be considered as part of EPCR’s customary extensive post-round review.”

EPCR has been made aware of an incident towards the end of today’s RC Toulon v Benetton Rugby Champions Cup match.

The Citing Commissioner is considering the incident as part of his routine review of the match, and will make a decision when he has concluded his enquiries. pic.twitter.com/u9sSJlnixV

— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 14, 2018

Controversial Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal attempted to turn the attention to the ECPR, who claims is run by the ‘mormon’ influenced Irish and Welsh.

Boudjellal is quoted as saying: “What I’m afraid of is the mormon side of the EPCR, with the Welsh and the Irish. They are people who sell morality when they do not have it.

“The same who have ministers who are whipped in private, but who pass for ‘clean’ guys in public.”

Boudjellal -"What I'm afraid of is the mormon side of the EPCR, with the Welsh and the Irish. They are people who sell morality when they do not have it. The same who have ministers who are whipped in private, but who pass for 'clean' guys in public." https://t.co/puuonw0XBo

— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) January 14, 2018