Inglourious Bastareaud, Pulp Fiction

Oops! I lied.

[Updated below - Update II - Update III - Update IV - Update V - Update VI - Update VII - Update VIII - Update IX - Update X - Update XI.]

Following close on the heels of the revelations yesterday in the Mark Sanford l'affair, we've got our own little rugby potboiler - the fabricated tale of a fractured eye-socket.

On Saturday night, following France's 14-10 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington, a scandal broke in New Zealand when it was alleged that:

A French rugby player was punched and knocked to the ground in an early morning attack by five rugby fans.

Mathieu Bastareaud, dubbed the "French Nonu" by the All Blacks, was attacked at a taxi rank in central Wellington early yesterday.

According to the French team, Bastareaud was knocked to the ground by five men, who recognised the rising rugby star as he returned to his Featherston St hotel.

"He is a bit shocked," French coach Marc Lievremont said last night. "And on top of that, he broke his nose last week in the [first test against the All Blacks]. It is a lot. He is only 20 years old. He is very strong, but at the same time ..."

The centre, who is 1.83 metres tall and weighs 111 kilograms, was returning to the Holiday Inn after his team's 14-10 loss to the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium. French team manager Jo Maso said Bastareaud had to have four stitches in his left cheek. He also suffered bruising in the attack. He was treated by the French team doctor.

Maso said that just before they struck, the attackers yelled "something about `F...ing French'.

"It was five on one," Maso said.

Lievremont said that Bastareaud was with the French squad when they went out for a drink but wanted to return to the hotel early.

"As he came out for a taxi he was attacked by some people ... hit on the face."

The French team did not pursue charges with police, but told the New Zealand Rugby Union.

"We know we won't find them [the attackers]. We just informed the New Zealand federation of an incident. They are not to blame though, it was misfortune," he said.

"[The injury] wasn't too serious. All the same Mathieu was afraid and needed help."

The rugby union said it was deeply disappointed by the attack, which struck at its reputation as a host ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Source.

It gets worse however, because Bastareaud didn't just say he was swarmed by any ole' white-bread Kiwis. Instead:

He told them he thought his attackers were Polynesian and Maori.

Source.

The NZ police were on an all-points-bulletin hunt for the attackers, and there was the curious piece of missing evidence when a video-camera showed Bastareaud arriving back to his hotel in the early morning hours with women on his arm and looking no worse for wear.

Red flags really started flapping when Bastareaud returned home to France while he teammates continued their tour to Australia.

The French rugby player assaulted in Wellington at the weekend says he is amazed at the level of interest surrounding the Sunday morning incident.

Mathieu Bastareaud was attacked by four or five men when he returned to his team’s hotel after having been out drinking in the central city.

"I have just returned from New Zealand and I am really surprised at the amount of media interest surrounding it," the blockbusting centre said in a statement released by his club Stade Francais.

"I was astonished by the amount of journalists at the airport when I touched down.

"All that happened was an everyday occurrence which could happen to anybody. Unhappily for me it was my turn this time."

Source.

As Geraldo Rivera used to say, "Now it can be told!"

Bastareaud comes clean

25th June 2009

France and Stade Français centre Mathieu Bastareaud has admitted to lying about being assaulted in New Zealand in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Bastareaud returned to France earlier this week with stitches in his face after saying he had been assaulted by "four or five" men in the streets of Wellington.

In a statement published on his club's website on Thursday, Bastareaud has confessed to making the entire story up after doubts were cast over his original version of events when it was revealed that CCTV footage from the night showed Bastareaud walking into his hotel uninjured with two other players and two women.

"I have to clear up the incidents that happened in New Zealand. I have to tell the truth," read Bastareaud's statement.

"On Saturday night, I came back to the hotel after having too much to drink. I fell in my room and hit the bedside table and opened up my cheek.

"I was ashamed, I panicked and I thought I was going to be thrown out of the French national team. I told this story thinking it would all blow over, but seeing the magnitude it's taken I prefer to tell the truth.

"I didn't want to shock my family. I panicked and dug myself deeper into a hole."

"I would like to apologise to the New Zealand Rugby Union, the city of Wellington, the players and staff of the French national team, my club, my friends and most of all those who were affected by this incident."

Source.

The Telegraph (UK) reports:

The previously reported incident of assault on Bastareaud had cast a negative light on New Zealand - the hosts of the 2011 Rugby World Cup - but their reputation now appears to be restored. ...

The New Zealand rugby federation received a full apology from Bastareaud, whose 'assault' had prompted New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key to step in to calm matters.

AFP:

France manager Jo Maso on Thursday issued sincere apologies to the New Zealand authorities and admitted centre Mathieu Bastareaud had concocted his story about being beaten up by thugs in Wellington.

"We defended our player but unfortunately he lied to everybody," Maso said, expressing official regrets to New Zealand and others involved in the incident.

"They, like us, were duped... We are shattered by what has happened and we will see what decisions are needed on the part of the (French Rugby) federation and national selectors," he told reporters in Sydney where the France XV is preparing for Saturday's Test against the Wallabies.

"This is a great shame because the prime minister (New Zealand premier John Key) had issued a letter of apology. It is regrettable and I am profoundly hurt."

Funnily enough, from the photo at the top of the post, it appears the only thing Maori or Polynesian in this farce are the motifs tattooed onto Bastareaud's forearm. Bad mana.




Update:

Did Bastareaud come clean after a guilty conscience? Or might he have been squeezed...?

Police had sprung lying Bastareaud

Mathieu Bastareaud admitted lying about being assaulted in Wellington only after police suggested he "reconsider" his position, the head of the police inquiry says. ...

Inspector Pete Cowan told Radio New Zealand there had been no evidence to support Bastareaud's version of events, including CCTV footage from the Holiday Inn which showed him entering the hotel without injuries.

He said Wellington police on Thursday asked the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to contact their French counterparts to discuss the incident further.

"We outlined clearly our findings which showed Mr Bastareaud's allegations were a pure fabrication and suggested that Mr Bastareaud reconsider his position."

It was because of this police action that Bastareaud admitted he had lied, Mr Cowan said.

"Mr Bastareaud hasn't come out overnight and apologised out of the goodness of his heart. This has been a strategy from us and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union have been strong supporters and assisted us in this."

Cowan said Bastareaud had arrived back at the hotel at 5.22am on Sunday but didn't enter his room until 25 minutes later, and "what happened in that 25 minutes is obviously open to a lot of speculation".

Bastareaud had not laid an official complaint, but his fabricated story had wasted "an enormous amount of resources", Mr Cowan said.

Wellington's mayor Kerry Prendergast earlier said she believed the French rugby team and its management had colluded over Bastareaud's story.

"There was clearly collusion, there were other players involved, the team doctor's involved, the coach because Bastareaud got sent back to France so quickly. This is wider than just one player." ...

Bastareaud now faces disciplinary sanctions from the French Rugby Federation (FFR).

In a statement, its president Pierre Camou apologised to the people of New Zealand and the New Zealand Rugby Union, and said he had asked the FFR disciplinary committee to open an inquiry into the incident.

Source.

Update II:

The Times resident rugby "expert" Stephen Jones misses the boat - again! - in his latest column:

Awards for pomposity

...

And the pomposity of the statement by Steve Tew, chief executive of the (NZRU), grates horribly. He droned on about the savage injury to the reputation of "rugby, Wellington and New Zealand", demanded some kind of action by the French Federation, who were absolutely blameless, and generally reacted as if Bastareaud had actually burned down the New Zealand Parliament.

That "absolutely blameless" presumption is also a show of pomposity, right back at the precious 'Tash, whose condescending pretense continues...

The statement also appears to indicate that there has never been any crime in Wellington of an evening, and also that no New Zealand rugby players have ever got themselves into trouble. The truth is, of course, that an incredibly large number of leading New Zealand rugby players have been convicted of a whole variety of offences over the past five or six years, causing one New Zealand professional observer to wonder in print if there was not an alcohol problem in rugby which needed to be addressed.

Bastareaud was way out of order, but his offence was neither particularly better or worse than many of those committed in New Zealand and elsewhere by players who have downed a few. I also have sympathy for Bastareaud and for all players and referees struggling with a drink problem - and none whatsoever for the papal, mock-anguished tones of official reprimands.

"The truth is," Mr. Jones? You're telling us the truth?

All-righty, then. Kindly answer for us - how many of those kiwi pissheads over the past five or six years fabricated LIES making the fictitious claims that they were:

1. Swarmed by a gang?

2. Claimed they were deliberately targetted by nationality?

3. Identified the accused fictitious attackers by race?

4. And then extracted an official public apology from the nations' highest head of state?

Yeah, for sure, happens all the time, "neither particularly better or worse than many of those committed in New Zealand."

How many times, Stevie-boy?

Edify us with your wisdom and knowledge. Don't restrict yourself to just New Zealanders and the "past five or six years."

Try hard to present even so much as ONE single example that supports your fallacy, and you get to choose from ANY PLAYER from ANY NATION in the ENTIRE HISTORY OF RUGBY UNION.

It's stupefying how ignorant, full of shit and illogical this man is.

He's also incredibly thin-skinned.

He loves posting every log-rolling comment that elevates him onto a pedestal and strokes his moustache. But try writing him a polite message of dissent at his blog, and rest assured that 9 times out of 10 this pompous bully-coward will "moderate" your comment with a delete button.


Update III:

The fibs and revelations just keep on a-comin'.

I always reckoned Mathieu Bastareaud's "confession" sounded suspicious.

After giving us the Once Were Warriors version, where Bastareaud claimed he was attacked by a gang of savage Maoris, who targetted him and swore at him, calling him a "filthyfucking Frenchman" before laying their boots in, he then "came clean" with Version No. 2, the "Battered Wife Excuse," blaming drunkeness and a coffee table.

He could have just as easily told us it was a door knob.

Now it appears the Maoris and Polynesians were the real victims, and the actual culprits were more than likely Bastareaud's "filthyfucking French" teammates.

Paper claims Bastareaud 'punched by teammate'

French rugby international Mathieu Bastareaud was reportedly punched by one of his teammates, according to a Paris newspaper. ...

The French press are now airing another scenario.

How he sustained a cut cheek and facial bruising is the big question.

Two fellow players - named as Louis Picamoles and Fulgence Ouedraogo - may have played a part in the bizarre episode, newspapers suggest.

According to an internal investigation by the team, Picamoles and Ouedraogo came back to the Holiday Inn at 5.22am on June 21 in a taxi with two women, while Bastareaud arrived at the same time in a second taxi, news agency Agence France Presse reported.

"Drunk and aggressive, Bastareaud was reportedly calmed down by a fist from one of his teammates," according to an account sketched by the daily Le Parisien. It also quoted Picamoles and Ouedraogo as denying this.

Picamoles, Bastareaud, Yannick Jauzion and Thomas Domingo, on the injury list, flew back from the tour last Monday, while Ouedraogo stayed on to play against the Wallabies. ...

Team bosses face tough questions about their handling of the scandal.

One is why Pierre Camou, president of the French Rugby Federation, and Jo Maso, the Bleus' manager, leapt to defend Bastareaud.

They insist they were duped by the player. Le Parisien said acidly: "Taking a bit of distance in handling this affair would have helped to avoid a diplomatic incident and prevented French rugby from looking ridiculous." Le Monde described the incident as a "torment" for les Bleus.

And sports daily L'Equipe said: "The Bastareaud affair is far from over."

Source.

Update IV:




Somewhere in this sordid saga, there is a human being:

Bastareaud hospitalized after new allegations he was punched by team-mate

29 June 2009

Shamed France international Mathieu Bastareaud has been admitted to hospital with "severe psychological problems" in the latest twist of a tawdry affair that shows no signs of abating.

His hospitalization follows earlier media reports that the 20-year-old Stade Francais player had sustained his now infamous facial injuries after being punched by a teammate.

Max Guazzini, president of Bastareaud’s club Stade Francais, said the player had returned early from a Caribbean holiday and was now under medical supervision in a "specialized institution" in Paris. Guazzini said he was likely to remain in hospital for a fortnight and refused to give its exact location.

Guazzani blamed what appears to be some sort of mental breakdown on the "relentlessness of the press against a boy of twenty years. Journalists have gone to his home and that of his parents. It is completely destroyed, we must leave him alone," he told AFP.

The latest development is a further blow to both the player and to French rugby generally as a web of lies and half-truths slowly unravels.

Bastareaud initially said he had been mugged outside his team hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, but was forced into a public apology after police proved that he had entered the hotel uninjured at 5.22am on June 21.

The Stade Francais player then claimed he had slipped and hit his cheek on a table in his hotel room after a drunken evening out, but now a third version of events is beginning to formulate.

French newspaper Le Parisien now claims the player was hit by one of his own colleagues after returning to the hotel. Team-mates Louis Picamoles and Fulgence Ouedraogo have been named as the two players who returned to the hotel – in company with two females – at the same time as Bastareaud, although both are denying their involvement.

"Drunk and aggressive, Bastareaud was reportedly calmed down by a fist from one of his team-mates," said Le Parisien.

Inspector Peter Cowan, who led the New Zealand police investigation into the alleged mugging, had already confirmed that there was a 25 minute window between Bastareaud entering the hotel and returning to his own room.

"What happened in that 25 minutes is obviously open to a lot of speculation,” he said last week. "Now I’m now in a position to tell you, all I can tell you is Mr Bastareaud was not assaulted outside the hotel by four or five mugs."

Le Parisien says an internal team investigation has concluded that Picamoles and Ouedraogo returned to the hotel in a taxi accompanied by two un-named women. Bastareaud apparently arrived at the same time in a separate taxi.

Picamoles and Bastareaud were subsequently flown home to France due to injuries, with Ouedraogo staying on to play against Australia last weekend.

The newspaper says Bastareaud now faces a French disciplinary commission which could either fine or suspend him from the national team.

It is another sorry turn in a turgid tale of lies and half-truths, with Bastareaud’s reputation already in tatters. Whether other players, or even the management team, get fingered for their roles in the episode remains to be seen as the full story slowly emerges.

Source.

Update V.



Did Mathieu Bastareaud attempt to commit suicide??

I haven't seen any confirmed news reports, but a distressing rumour appears on a French-language rugby blog posted at daily Le Monde. I don't know the accuracy of the post since there's no source link, but wondering all the same whether it might be true.

Babelfish translation:

The spirit of the previous article dictated by the succession of true-false information about Mathieu Bastareaud and consequences of his third half-time after the Wellington test requires me to clarify that it was mailed to 12 pm today. At 17 hours, the announcement of the attempted suicide of the young man and casts a cold hospital on the case so far to say the least, bizarre. [...]

Original text:

L’esprit du précédent article dicté par la succession de vraies-fausses informations concernant Mathieu Bastareaud et les conséquences de sa troisième mi-temps après le test de Wellington m’oblige a préciser qu’il a été posté vers 12 heures ce jour. A 17 heures, l’annonce de la tentative de suicide du jeune homme et son hospitalisation jette un froid sur cette affaire jusque-là pour le moins rocambolesque. Il n’est plus question de mensonges, de défendre ou d’accabler un homme qui en arrive cette extrémité ni même d’ironiser sur ceux qui l’entourent en bien ou en mal. [...]

Source.

Update VI.

More French-language reports about an attempted suicide.

L'Equipe & Actualité et News.

Let's hope the guy pulls himself together and has a full recovery.

The saga has gone from criminal travesty, to laughable farce, to pitiable sympathy for the player in a matter of a week. It's not over, we still don't know the whole truth, and we don't know who to believe.


Update VII.





I'm sorry.



Telegraph (UK) reports:

01 Jul 2009

Mathieu Bastareaud lie over assault prompts French Prime Minister to apologise

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has written a letter of apology to his New Zealand equivalent, John Key, after France centre Mathieu Bastareaud admitted to lying about an assault in Wellington last month.

[...]

In his letter, Fillon told Key: "By his false statements, as a result of which you had to intervene publicly, he seriously tainted the image of your country and its people."

Fillon said that he "regretted this incident" and added: "Our two countries share the culture of rugby.

"This sport has always allowed us to meet and to share a mutual respect. I hope that these sentiments will continue after this regrettable affair."

Bastareaud meanwhile has been admitted to hospital with what has been reported as serious psychological problems after the worldwide interest into the incident affected his mental state.

The Stade Francais centre, who had been due to go on a family holiday to the Caribbean this week, is expected to stay in hospital for at least a fortnight under observation.

The 20-year-old, who made his debut for France last year, has been backed by the French players' union, Provale, who issued a statement saying: "We solemnly demand that the media storm which nurtures doubts and fantasies ends immediately. We want above all that his privacy be respected and we hope that he makes a return to the pitch as quickly as possible."

But French Rugby Federation (FRF) president Pierre Camou, was less forgiving and condemned Bastareaud's behaviour.

"To be an international carries with it responsibility as a representative of your country and your federation," a FRF statement read.

"The FRF is shocked that one of the French XV has lied. The New Zealand nation and the world of rugby can legitimately feel wounded by the player's initial statements which have also tarnished the image of French rugby."

Update VIII.



The Times (UK) reports:

A France rugby international who sparked a diplomatic incident when he falsely claimed that he had been assaulted by New Zealand fans has been admitted to psychiatric care after reportedly throwing himself into the Seine.

Mathieu Bastareaud, 20, is said to have attempted suicide after telling friends he could not cope with the scandal that erupted when his lies were uncovered by police in New Zealand. The incident has become an embarrassment to French rugby authorities amid claims that they helped to cover up a hotel room fight between players and left Bastareaud to face the controversy on his own.

Bastareaud is a rare representative of France’s troubled suburban estates in a sport dominated by players from a white provincial background. This, his friends say, has exacerbated his mental fragility. “He sent me a text saying he couldn’t stand this harassment,” said Mathieu Blin, a team-mate at the club Stade Français. “Now he’s completely gone off the rails.”

French media reports said the rugby player told friends that he was suicidal after being sent home from France’s tour to New Zealand and Australia. LÉquipe, the sporting daily, said he jumped into the Seine at the weekend.

Update IX.

Ex-France international & current media consultant Laurent Bénézech. blogs and raises some suspicious contradictions and straightforward questions.

Google translation:

Case Bastareaud: Maso must resign!.

Chronicle, 30 June 2009

In recent days, I asked whether I had to shed some light on what everyone calls the case Bastareaud that first, is a tempest in a teapot. I say, at first, because the problem is not that Mathieu Bastareaud had detonated the cheekbone by a combination of circumstances that certainly has the name of a partner, but more by the fact that this kid has found in nature released by management of the French team. Back on the facts and attempt to explain.

What has really happened on Sunday morning? .

I am more interested in what happened after the injury of Mathieu Bastareaud as what happened before. But as it should from the outset, let the facts. What do we know with certainty? The youth center arrived at the hotel at the same time with 2 other players with 2 girls, certainly good families and finally came to discuss the tectonic plates and other philosophical topics. 2 girls, 3 boys, a little alcohol to liven it all, it makes a lot of possibilities when these boys have the spirit sharer. What do we know yet? That one of 2 players is Louis Picamoles and we tried to make us believe that the other was Fulgence Ouedraogo except that the police has shown that this was not the case. First question: Why have lied about the identity of the second player? To protect it? Second question then: Why protect him if he has done nothing? I see 2 possible answers: either because the 3rd line Montpellier fiancé has no base or because it allows you to more easily conceal the famous player, even 2 at a time. Third question: How important is it to conceal the identity of a player who would eventually, in a gesture of annoyance, put a right (or left or a whim elsewhere ...) Mathieu Bastareaud? This is not the first time that such an incident occurs and until then, apart from the direct punishment that was the end of the tour to Mathieu Bastareaud, there was no death? Here are several possible answers depending on whether you want to protect the privacy of the offending player or his status in the team and, having no proof, I will certainly not venture to give a name. By against, what interests me is the result which is far more catastrophic than the 3 stitches on the cheek of the young French center stage.

...

There is no need to be in the small papers for the name since the team gave today. Moreover it is easy to imagine that if the geniuses of the FFR has tried to hide a player by another player, simply take the physical characteristics of the player in question, Fulgence Ouedraogo, seeking what is the other major player of the team that looks the most. Now if you do not, it only remains for you to buy the team ...

Update X.
Bloodhound Bénézech tracks the conspirators



Ex-France international test prop Laurent Bénézech continues his superlative sleuthing, and advises the young Mathieu Basteaud to come clean, tell the whole truth, stop protecting the guilty and co-conspirators, for the good of French rugby and his own mental health.

Excerpt (Google translation):

Mathieu Bastareaud: Why must now tell the truth!

2 July 2009

Mathieu Bastareaud is not only involved in the case Bastareaud!

If one follows the course of the versions of events given to the press and that we proceed by elimination, one can conclude that the attack on the young French center stage took place within the hotel and can not come from a clash on the night table of his room since the New Zealand Police found no trace of blood on the furniture. It appears therefore more and more obvious that the player was struck that, as a former rugby player and without, of course, an expert with the courts, seems the most plausible. Taking into account the player's body, the size of the cuts and bruises on his face, it seems obvious that he was struck by someone stout and strong enough to reach such a result. In any case, anything that does not resemble the passivity of furniture, even solid oak! Indeed, evidence is emerging: Mathieu Bastareaud, its fanciful versions protects her abuser!

And this is where things do not seem consistent. What interest Mathieu Bastareaud lying? He claimed to have done to protect his international career. But why, then, Mathieu Bastareaud not telling the truth as it is not aggressive aggressor? The only person to have committed a mistake at this point is that (or that, but it is unlikely given the result of impact) that hit the player in the face. Panicked because he claims Max Guazzini, uh ..., Mathieu Bastareaud pardon himself. But panic over what? In fact he was injured? But then the story of the night table was, at that time, perfect to avoid any further criticism than the awkwardness and alcoholic especially since the staff of the French team had given permission to players out, so drink, to be clumsy in returning. This is where nothing I want and where more and more difficult to believe that Mathieu Bastareaud was not alone at the time to build a lie to explain his injury!

Mathieu Bastareaud has no choice now!

If the young French center stage to avoid paying for others, he must now speak. It must give the true version of events. He must explain what happened before between 5:22 and 5:47, and secondly and more importantly, what happened from the time it was recousu by Dr. Hager. What risk there more? It is already condemned by the Federation and the Prime Minister of France. And if a few good friends advice him promise that his silence is the best way to avoid too heavy a sentence, Mathieu Bastareaud should know that this is wrong!

The young French center stage is now designated as guilty only by what he is all alone to take the lie of the alleged assault outside the hotel by New Zealand nationals. But now it is proven to have been assaulted inside the hotel and clear as it was by a natural person and not a piece of furniture, Mathieu Bastareaud can no longer be accused of having been the only one lying. There are at least one other person who knows the truth, his assailant. Plus, maybe, if we are going to be assumed that the first version of the facts, which seems many arrange french camp, has been blown by Mathieu Bastareaud others.

Why do I pretend that the first version arrange many french camp? Simply because if the player was attacked inside the hotel, he could not have been, or by someone outside the French delegation, either by someone who is gone. If we accept the first option, why invent a version where the action took place outside the hotel when it happened in there? As against, if we accept the second option, this was a much more logical Mathieu Bastareaud was assaulted by a member of the French delegation, which gives an explanation for the clear starting to lie about the reasons for the injury to the face of the young Parisian.

The supervision of the French team in the secrecy of lies?

Obligatoirement, Mathieu Bastareaud and the assailant knew from the outset the facts! That is obvious. Them only? This is where I am taken to a huge doubt. I find it hard to believe that the aggressor, having placed his right (or left, once again I am not an expert with the courts) on the cheek of the player, has recouche as if nothing had happened . So I think it quickly sober by the consequences of his action, accompanied her partner to the room of Dr. Hager and thus, de facto, the now famous Dr. Jean-Philippe Hager knows the name of the abuser Mathieu Bastareaud And if Dr. Hager knows the name of the abuser from Mathieu Bastareaud, the same goes for the whole of the guidelines of the French team! So, logically, Mathieu Bastareaud could use the version of the attack outside the hotel with the blessing of the overall supervision of the French team. And when I say a blessing, I am compelled to ask whether it, as it would have us believe, Mathieu Bastareaud who is from the version or if, as is now possible, this version it was strongly suggested by promising that it would bury the case was not yet one.

When I say that I believe that the assailant with the victim, I have no certainty of course other than to think that whatever it is, the assailant had the presence of mind to worry the state of health of his partner to bring to the doctor's room. This is the normal behavior of a rugby player for one of our partners even if he is the cause of the injury. And that's what makes me think that Mathieu Bastareaud is only an instrument which has served a version of facts was to stifle what is supposed to be a case. The problem is that we came today to reverse the effect that the young French center stage must defend himself for not being the ideal sentenced to hide the huge gaps that this story reveals! MATHIEU, YOU MUST SAY THE TRUTH IS YOUR INTEREST ...

Update XI.
The Lone Gunman



It defies belief, but the FFR is washing their hands and passing the buck on l'Affaire Bastareud with an obvious cover-up to protect conspirators and blame it on a single man.

I am sure Laurent Bénézech will have more to say about this obvious smoke-screen (see previous posts).

Google translation:

The development of Pierre Camou

In an interview published by Midi Olympique, the president of the Federation reaffirms its support for the staff of Blue and announced that the Disciplinary Committee should punish the player.

As the father of Mathieu Bastareaud has proclaimed his anger in the press last week - including denying having cancer while the information was issued by the player himself to the doctor of the team of France - Pierre Camou is also emerged from his silence. Questioned about this at the conference of the Federation in Strasbourg last weekend, the president of the FFR, whose silence became heavy, has finally delivered his opinion on this matter in an interview published by Midi Olympique on Monday .

Annoyed by some questions on this lie became an affair of state after the apologies of the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and french, the successor to Bernard Lapasset strongly reaffirmed the continued Jo Maso at his post. Some spoke of a possible dismissal of manager of the French team, but Pierre Camou said he "was never in danger." If it concedes the lack of relevance of a night out between two tests, it vigorously defended his staff: "I say, I repeat and I repeat: everyone has fulfilled its role, ensures there. I want to reiterate that the players are professionals (...) The players are adults. You can not put a guard in front of each room. It is their responsibility. "

"There will obviously a sanction"

Mathieu Bastareaud should be the only one to pay the mess in this case. "The Disciplinary Committee has received, it will be independent in its investigation and then, proposals for possible sanctions", said the president of the FFR, as that "there is obviously a penalty, if only in relation to the injury of a people, an entire nation, had to endure." There are still no date fixed for the consideration of case of player who, moreover, is always placed in a clinic in the Paris area to rest.

"What worries me most is the health of the player," says Pierre Camou. A health condition which returned Max Guazzini in the Sunday issue Stage 2, providing further reassurance. But the president of the french stage once again threw the trouble on this matter very opaque in stating that "if (Bastareaud, NDLR) not telling the truth, perhaps because it protects people ... "The investigation requested by the President of the FFR is supposed to shed light on this matter." ...

Total farce.