Player's career may be over after cheap shot on female ref
Bruno Doglioli of Vicenza pleaded guilty to the transgression, after his contemptible decision to charge into the back of a female referee, Maria Beatrice Welcome, off the ball in an Italian Serie A clash with Valsugana last Sunday.
The sordid incident left the female referee with whiplash – which was only detected when she went to the hospital after the match.
After the despicable incident, she dusted herself off and completed the match.
Doglioli, who was yellow carded for his cheap shot, was slapped with a three-year ban by the Italian federation.
The player, who turns 34 in March, was also banned by his club, Vicenza, from any rugby activities.
"The club, Rangers Rugby Vicenza, in the light of the behaviour of their athlete, first team player Bruno Doglioli, suspended the player from any type of activity and condemns firmly his behaviour, contrary to the values of society and this sport," the club said in a statement on its website.
Condemning "a deliberate act of violence towards the match referee," the Italian federation said in a statement Doglioli had been banned "from playing any competitive sport for three years".
"The Italian Rugby Federation would like to reiterate that this sanction – the heaviest in the last 20 years – underlines that when it comes to infringing the rules of the game and, above all, the fundamental values of our sport, we will show zero tolerance," the FIR said.
"It also underlines the FIR's firm stance against those who abuse, verbally or physically, match officials."
The ban may only be three years – the longest allowed in Italy – but it is unlikely he will return to the field and even he does decide to make a comeback after 36 months, it is unlikely any respectable outfit would have anything to do with him.
Source: LaGazetta dello Sport
