sentenced for domestic violence, Mohamed Haouas is rejected by his club and the Blues

2023-05-31 08:20:58

The pillar of the XV of France rugby Mohamed Haouas was sentenced to one year in prison, but convertible, Tuesday, in Montpellier, for domestic violence. The French Rugby Federation described his behavior as “incompatible with the representation of our nation at international level”. The ASM, which he was to join in 2024, has meanwhile declared that the rugby player will not ultimately wear the colors of the club.

Published on : 31/05/2023 – 08:20

Exit the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the pillar of the XV of France Mohamed Haouas. The rugby player, placed in pre-trial detention for a few days after violence against his wife on the public highway, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 30, in Montpellier, to one year in prison, but without continued detention.

This judgment, which comes some 100 days before the start of international competition, seems to put an end to the hopes of selection of Mohamed Haouas a few weeks before the announcement of the official list of players selected to represent France. The French Rugby Federation (FFR) described the behavior of the international pillar as “inadmissible” and “incompatible with the representation of our nation at international level”.

“Being a member of the France team implies irreproachable respect for the values ​​of respect and integrity. Firmness is our duty in such circumstances”, added Serge Simon, vice-president of the FFR in charge of the French teams. , quoted in the press release where the body expresses “its dismay”.

“The staff of the XV of France will speak on June 7 at the press conference of the coach and the general manager initially planned”, specified the FFR, thus implying that the career in Bleu de Haouas, selected sixteen times in the France team, was over.

Earlier, the Clermont club – which the 29-year-old pillar was to join next season – announced that he “will not be able to wear the club’s colors on the pitch”. “The facts alleged against Mohamed Haouas, and which he has admitted, are unacceptable”, explained the ASM in its press release.

➡️Communication Mohamed Haouas

Justice has just rendered its decision in the case of “domestic violence” concerning Mohamed Haouas.

By his behavior Mohamed Haouas puts himself in total opposition to our identity and our convictions, and in the state of the elements of which… pic.twitter.com/AufZ1g1QGl

— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) May 30, 2023

“Major repetition risk”

The Montpellier Criminal Court ultimately did not follow the prosecutor, who had requested a total of 18 months with a warrant of committal and therefore continued detention against the MHR player, tried for hitting his wife on Friday, after he seen smoking a cigarette in front of the mall where she works.

The player, who had been detained pending his trial in immediate appearance, left after the hearing to prison for the formalities of release.

The prosecutor had requested two years in prison, including one year suspended probation, for the blows to his wife, as well as the revocation of six months of suspension pronounced for a previous case of burglaries – in which the Montpellier player had been sentenced to 18 months suspended prison sentence – 18 months in total.

The magistrate had also requested the continued detention of the MHR player, married and father of two children: “I request continued detention to protect Madam, the risk of repetition is major,” she explained.

“You have requested a sentence that will destroy a family,” replied the player’s lawyer, Me Marc Gallix, in defense. “A slap can happen, but he didn’t beat her. I’m asking for a probationary sentence with the obligation to take care of himself,” he continued.

Flexible sentence

The court rendered its decision after a brief deliberation, therefore condemning the player to a firm, but flexible, one-year sentence. The judges also awarded one euro in damages to the wife of Mohamed Haouas, who did not file a complaint but filed a civil action.

She had assured during the hearing that it was the first time that he raised his hand on her. “She wants to find this (Tuesday) evening her husband, the father of her children, to be able to discuss what happened, perhaps with a third party,” said her lawyer, Me Florian Medico.

Selected 16 times in the jersey of the France team, Mohamed Haouas sees his sporting career darken. Excluded against Scotland in February, during the last Six Nations tournament, after a first red card received against this same team in 2020, he was however already in the hot seat sportingly.

The MHR player had already been convicted in February 2022, for robberies of tobacco shops in Montpellier, in 2014. On May 12, during a second trial, for his participation in a violent fight on January 1, 2014, the prosecution requested a two-year suspended sentence. The deliberation in this case is expected on June 30.

With AFP