On a follow up by ThePapare.com on the status of disciplinary action taken by Isipathana college on the players who allegedly engaged in brutal punching and eye-gouging at the Royal/Isipathan rugby encounter, the Isipathana rugby committee issued the following statement :
We wish to state that on our part we have endeavored to ensure that students of Isipathana College play clean and hard Rugby. Disciplinary action will be taken against those players who get physical outside the norms of the game. We have already appointed a Disciplinary Committee to look into the incidents claimed to have occurred at the above match. Appropriate action will be taken against any player if they are found to have defied the rules or the spirit of the game. In fact one of our regular second row forwards of the 1st XV team has been severely warned and demoted to the 2nd XV team for getting a red card at one of the matches under this tournament. Therefore, we need no intimation to maintain discipline, as we are committed to maintaining discipline of not only the Rugby Players but also of other students at Isipathana College as a whole
But saying so, we would like to highlight on the fact that there were no such eye – gouging. According to eye hospital sources on the day of the match there had not been any such incident reported.
Even at the accident ward there had been only two players reported taking some medication for a knee pain and the other for an ankle pain. This too well past 7.30pm and could not be taken as a major issue for a rugby game. Everyone saw No 7 of Royal college who had blood on his face in the doctored/ edited channel 4 type video playing the Bradby 1st leg which gives you evidence that he was not effected due to any eye – gouging. In fact we take dozens of players to hospital after a game. We are not stating that the eye- gouging or any of that sort is accepted. But we are simply saying that we feel this issue was blown out of proportion.
The information we have with regard to the issue are – statements had been recorded from players and they had all claimed that they were provoked and hence they had retaliated in two or three incidents. However, we categorically state that it should not have happened and they will be punished for it. Some of them will be stripped off their colours as well.
We also would like to highlight that the video that was shown is doctored/ edited and does not give the correct picture. The original video of the full match not put forth to the public gives a much clearer picture. On two occasions the offenders get punished. In one instance they get a yellow card which is not shown in the infamous video made by the Royal Media unit.
The disciplinary committee will take action for sure. We await the report from the college.
