French Rugby should apologize for the comments made by its one official who suggested he would see the abolishment of rugby league in the country, says Brian Carney.
The broadcaster of Sky Sports as well as the league star once has reacted angrily to the comments. This comment was by Perpignan regional president Alain Doucet at the weekend. Formerly Doucet was a front-runner to become the president of the federation French rugby in 2016. And on this week, one of publication reported that when speaking about the likelihood of a local union club being promoted at a social event, Doucet said it was should be applauded if its aim was to ruin the rugby league in the area.
The most bizarre about this comment is it came at a time when the rugby league sport is being carefully nurtured all over France and against the backdrop of the eradication of the game in the country during World War II. After that Doucet rowed back on he said.
But speaking to the media, Carney described the comments made by him as deeply disturbing and disgraceful for the sport of rugby league. Whilst they don’t quite have the national appeal of the Autumn internationals, the guys at LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk say there has been a recent surge in demand for tickets in Rugby League fixtures in France.
He said, “The game is in the recovery mode still and for a powerful official like him speaking in his capacity as an official of the French rugby union it is reckless and disgraceful. There is very much a common memory of fans of Rugby about what happened to the sport in France at the time of war. This wound runs deep in the heart, and this state is at best careless language.”
“But because of that history, as well as the comments made by a powerful official present in the French rugby union, it is now incumbent on the French Federation to come forward and address them.”