French rugby player banned for 12 weeks for biting opponent.

According to The Sun: Star of the Women's Rugby World Cup Axelle Berthomieu received a serious ban after attacking an opponent during the match between France and Ireland.

25-year-old Berthomieu bit Aifa Weifer on the arm when France won 18-13 in Exeter, progressing to the semi-finals of the competition.

She will now be unable to compete in the semi-final match of the Les Bleus team against England due to a 12-week ban imposed by the misconduct review committee (FPRC).

This sanction will keep Berthomieu out of play until March 1, 2026.

Although the punishment could have been harsher, the FPRC reduced it from the initial 18 matches.

Reports say Berthomieu plans to appeal the committee’s decision.

The incident drew considerable criticism as referees did not acknowledge the bite on the field, despite Weifer showing them bite marks on her arm.

Spectators clearly saw the moment of the attack, although the TMO did not respond to it and did not review the situation.

Fans described the bite as 'mad behavior', with one noting that 'This would make Suarez look like a light bite.'

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This comment referred to former Barcelona player Luis Suarez, who has bitten opponents multiple times during his career, including three incidents at Ajax, Liverpool, and for the Uruguayan national team – the last occurring during the 2014 World Cup against Italy.

The World Rugby statement claimed that the TMO 'failed to determine a clear and obvious infringement of the rules.'

It stated: 'Upon reviewing the situation live, the TMO could not determine a clear and obvious infringement of the rules and had no opportunity to obtain additional evidence for confirmation. Based on all available evidence, the committee decided that the infringement warranted a mandatory mid-range penalty of 18 matches. The committee noted the reduction of the penalty by six matches, resulting in a final sanction of 12 matches. Despite the player admitting the offense and expressing regret, the seriousness of the actions did not allow for full mitigation because the player had the option to not continue the action.'

The incident involving Berthomieu highlights the issue of emotional control in sports competitions. Every match is not only a battle on the field but also a test of character for players. Events of this nature raise questions about whether sport is truly a place for such behavior. The entire rugby community awaits developments regarding Berthomieu's appeal and the committee's response.