London (AFP)
Scotland will be fined GBP 70,000 (€ 81,000) for misplaced remarks when Typhoon Hagibis threatened to hold their last group match at the Rugby World Cup against Japan, World Rugby announced on Thursday .
Scottish President Mark Dodson said his team did not expect to be "a collateral damage" to Typhoon Hagibis, one of the worst long-standing strikes in Japan that killed 80 people.
He also accused the international federation of "rigidity" and threatened to launch a lawsuit if the match - last chance for the XV thistle to pull his ticket to the quarterfinals - did not take place.
The match ended up on 13 October and the host country won 28-21, eliminating Scotland from the pools for the second time in its history.
An independent committee has ruled that the remarks of the Scottish official were a fault, said World Rugby in his statement.
"These words implying that the competing teams were treated unfairly and disorganized were inappropriate and unwelcome at a time when Japan was preparing for the largest and most destructive typhoon in recent years," the statement said.
The committee also demanded from the Scottish Federation, in addition to the fine, the sum of which will be paid to an educational action of World Ruby for children in areas affected by the typhoon, a "sincere apology" in writing.
"We will reflect on this decision and continue to consider all our options, including a request for arbitration," replied in a tweet the Scottish Federation.
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