Paris (AFP)

Provence Rugby player Ludovic Radosavljevic, who admitted to making racist remarks against Cameroonian Nevers winger Christian Ambadiang during a Pro D2 match, has been suspended for 26 weeks, the National Rugby League announced on Thursday.

The 32-year-old, found responsible for "verbal offenses and provocations", will not be able to play before April 25, 2022, ie after the 28th day of the championship.

"Taking into account the particular gravity of the situation and the nature of the facts with which it is accused, the Disciplinary and Rules Commission determined the entry point of the offense at 52 weeks, ie the maximum sanction authorized", explains the NRL.

This sanction was reduced to 26 weeks "after taking into account the spontaneous recognition by the player of the facts with which he is accused (...), the recognition of his guilt, his clean disciplinary record and the expression of remorse before the hearing ".

At the beginning of September, Ambadiang, 22, denounced on his Instagram account the incident that occurred during the 26-23 success of Provence Rugby in front of his team, on behalf of the second day.

He accused an opposing player, without naming him, of having thrown at him: "I will burn you, banana eater", before coming to apologize later, saying that his words had been made "in the fire of the action".

The player in question, Radosavljevic, also publicly apologized on his Instagram account a few days later.

"I realize that what happened today represents the biggest mistake of my life and I ask forgiveness from Christian Ambadiang, his club, my family, my teammates, my staff, my leaders , club licensees, volunteers, all our supporters and club partners, "he wrote.

It now remains to know the decision of his club, who had fired his player pending the verdict.

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