Attoub can return to action in December

Stade Francais prop David Attoub's 70-week suspension for eye-gouging has been reduced to 52 weeks.

In January, Attoub was found guilty of gouging Ulster's Stephen Ferris during a Heineken Cup tie last December.

European Rugby Cup upheld the ruling in March, but Attoub appealed to France's National Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

And the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has accepted CNOSF's decision to cut the ban by 18 weeks, meaning Attoub can play again on 18 December this year.

"David Attoub could be eligible again at national level from 18 December, 2010 instead of 23 April, 2011 on condition that he follows the FFR example and also accepts this conciliation proposal," read an FFR statement.

606: DEBATE Your views on Attoub's ban

Despite the ban being reduced, it remains the second longest in union's history for a gouging offence, exceeded only by Colomiers prop Richard Nones's two-year suspension in 1999.

When delivering the original ruling, judicial officer Jeff Blackett said the incident, which occurred during Stade's 23-13 loss to Ulster at Ravenhill, "was the worst act of contact with the eyes" he had dealt with.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version