This is what the EPCR had to say about Bruce Craig's replay request

The EPCR have responded to Bath owner Bruce Craig’s request that their Heineken Champions Cup game against Toulouse be replayed.

The match will be remembered for fullback Freddie Burns late blunder under the posts but Craig felt that his side were let down by officiating at The Rec.

“I think the game should be replayed,” Craig told The Times, “and we will do what we can to get equity.”

Craig believes that the ref blew the final whistle several seconds too early, which stopped Bath from taking a crucial lineout which could have led to them losing the match.

Craig also added that Jerome Kaino and Lucas Pointud should have been red carded during the game. Both players were cited and subsequently banned.

Bath owner Bruce Craig's calls for a replay have raised a few eyebrows 👀

Healey: "That's a stupid statement to make."

Warburton: "It's never gonna happen."

❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/1g07OTU7KZ

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 19, 2018

“This is the European Cup, there are massive sporting and financial implications,” Craig told The Times. “Bath have been majorly disadvantaged.

“This isn’t sour grapes, because maybe we wouldn’t have won the game, but that is not the issue.”

Bath owner Bruce Craig wants his side's Heineken Champions Cup clash with Toulouse replayed 👀

•Final whistle blown seconds too early
•Two sin-binned players opposition retrospectively banned

What do you think? Is that enough to warrant a replay? pic.twitter.com/75SRgMMNif

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 19, 2018

Now the EPCR have had their say on the matter.

“It has been reported in the media that the match referee, Andrew Brace, blew the full-time whistle three seconds before the 80 minutes had elapsed, however, this is incorrect,” the EPCR said in a statement.

“Although the television match graphics indicated that 79 minutes and 57 seconds had elapsed when the match ended, the official stadium clock which was visible to players, club management and to spectators, clearly displayed that 80 minutes had elapsed.

“Once Andrew Brace received confirmation in his earpiece from the Official Timekeeper that time was up, he blew the final whistle.

“EPCR accepts that the disparity in this instance between the official time and the time shown on the television match graphics caused some confusion, and ways to avoid any similar situation in the future will be carefully considered by the tournament organiser.

“The result of the Pool 1 match stands.

Watch: Join RugbyPass employee of the month runner-up Sam Smith as he embarks on an epic journey across Europe to track down some of the finest Kiwi talent