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 Lack of evidence World Cup organizers rule out citings
Posted: Monday November 08, 1999 03:37 PM
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- Despite on-field complaints by the Australians of eye gouging and foul play, World Cup organizers decided Monday not to cite any players involved in Saturday's tournament final. A World Cup spokeswoman said the citing commissioner had reviewed the video of Australia's 35-12 defeat of France but had not identified the alleged incidents that the Wallabies had complained of. During the game, Wallaby skipper John Eales told referee Andre Watson that he'd lead the Australians off the field if the French kept up dirty tactics in scrums, rucks and mauls. Watson said he had twice cautioned French captain Raphael Ibanez to keep his players under control. The French skipper told French newspaper L'Equipe that he and Fabien Pelous risked being cited but said 'Le Bleus' had also been the victims of foul tactics from the Australians. Eales, who sustained a torn cornea of the right eye, was one of four Australians who finished the game with an eye injury. Wallaby doctor John Best said prop Richard Harry, hooker Michael Foley and scrumhalf George Gregan had also been the victims of gouging while David Wilson was kicked in the face. In the week leading into the final, All Blacks coach John Hart and team doctor John Mayhew made similar complaints about the French after New Zealand's shock 43-31 semifinal loss at Twickenham. Prop Franck Tournaire was cited for biting an All Blacks rival in the semifinal but was cleared after facing a disciplinary hearing due to a lack of evidence.
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