‘Ref did NOT help Springboks at RWC’ — World Rugby rubbishes cheating claims

World Rugby’s head of referees Joel Jutge has dismissed Antoine Dupont’s accusations that referee Ben O’Keeffe helped South Africa beat France in the World Cup playoffs.

Ben O' Keeffe

Antoine Dupont, the scrum-half and captain of France, watches as New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe (L) gives players instructions. Image: AFP

World Rugby has defended the officiating crew after French captain Dupont criticized the refereeing after their World Cup quarterfinal loss to the Springboks.

In an exciting quarterfinal match at the Stade de France, the Springboks defeated France 29–28, but things took a little negative turn when Dupont attacked the refereeing quality, implying that O’Keeffe’s officiating helped the Springboks.

When Dupont launched his vicious attack, O’Keeffe was the target of vicious online harassment.

Jutge accepted the pressure on Dupont’s injury return for that quarterfinal in an interview with the French newspaper Midi Olympique, but he denied the French captain’s remarks, citing the subsequent hate on the internet.

REFEREE FOR WORLD RUGBY BACKS

According to Jutge, the World Rugby referee selectors panel was certain that the referee had nothing to do with the team’s loss.

The World Rugby referees leader told Midi Olympique, “As the person responsible for the referees, I cannot condone what Antoine Dupont said, because it gave rise to a movement of abuse and terrible hatred online towards Ben.”

However, I am familiar with the man, and I am confident in his moral principles and how he views interactions between players and officials. Even though we all know that he was under a lot of pressure to return after his injury, he is a great champion and a decent man that we respect. Nevertheless, I reiterate that I do not support what he said that day.

“We evaluated his performance, and following this game, the selectors and I were certain that his officiating had nothing to do with the France team’s loss.”

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