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Finger in opponent’s eye, sports justice ruling prompts debate

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Justice’s ruling against Eben Etzebeth, South Africa’s second line, arrived on Thursday: there will be twelve matches that the Springboks giant will have to miss, between December 7 and March 27 next year. Etzebeth had been ejected, directly and permanently, in the final of the Test match won last Saturday, with a record score of 73-0, by the Springboks against Wales: referee Luc Ramos, after reviewing the images together with the TMO, had punished him for sticking a finger in Welshman Mann&#8217s eye during a paraphernalia at a standstill.

Francesco LuciveroPutting a finger in the opponent’s eye, photos of the very dangerous foul

During the fight he sticks a finger in the opponent's eye
South Africa overwhelmed Wales 73-0 in Cardiff, inflicting the worst home defeat in Welsh history
In the last minutes of the match a'huge brawl broke out involving many players
During the scuffle, South African Eben Etzebeth committed a most serious gesture: he stuck his thumb into the eye of Welshman Alex Mann
An 'eye-gouge' documented by the referee video that cost Etzebeth's ejection
The gesture condemns South Africa on the disciplinary and sporting levels: an incredible victory but tainted by a violent and dangerous act
Of course from professionals of their caliber one expects all'other conduct
Evidently the Wales players were frustrated with the result and lost control
The'referee struggled to restore order on the field: the brawl widened involving many players
A very bad show for the fans present at the stadium and for those who watched the game from home
The images of the brawl went viral and criticism came from around the world

We hope to never see such scenes again

The ruling, on the surface heavy, has actually sparked debate among fans and insiders: Etzebeth will only miss United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup matches, with the Sharks having to do without him until the end of March, while internationally nothing will prevent him from returning to the field with the Springboks when they resume international activity, in the summer of 2026. In addition, the player was able to take advantage of a rather substantial penalty discount (the minimum for so-called ‘eye-gouging’ is eighteen matches of disqualification): the independent committee that imposed the disqualification wanted to decrease it by one-third because before Saturday Etzebeth had never been sent off in his career in a national team jersey.

Etzebeth, therefore, will miss his Sharks’ Champions Cup matches against Toulouse (Dec. 7), Saracens (Dec. 13), Sale Sharks (Jan. 10) and Clermont (Jan. 17), as well as URC matches against the Bulls (Dec. 20 home, Feb. 28 away), Lions (Jan. 3 away, Feb. 21 home), Stormers (Jan. 24 away, Jan. 31 home), Munster (March 21) and Cardiff (March 27). With South Africa, however, he will be able to take part in the opening match of the Nations Championship, the new international tournament that will see the light of day in 2026: the Springboks will play their first match on July 4 against England.

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