People call for ban of Women’s Rugby World Cup star after she ‘bites rival’s arm’ in shocking footage
Rugby fans are up in arms after a French player appeared to bite her rival's arm during the Women's World Cup quarter-finals.
It seems that Les Bleus' flanker Axelle Berthoumieu may have taken the phrase 'contact sport' a bit too literally during the pivotal game on Sunday (14 September).
People reckon that the 25-year-old tried to take a chunk out of the arm of Ireland star Aoife Wafer, 22, as they tussled over the ball at the match in Exeter.
Footage from the shock moment during the second half of the game, which culminated in an 18-13 win for France, has since gone viral on social media.
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It appears to show Berthoumieu attempting to sink her teeth into Wafer's arm as she struggled to retain control over the ball during a ruck.
The clip allegedly captured the Les Bleus player's mouth making contact with her rival's forearm in the 42nd minute.
Take a look at this:
Wafer was then seen taking a look at her arm with a look of disbelief on her face - but much to the surprise of rugby fans, referee Aimee Barrett-Theron did not intervene.
A number of Ireland's players reportedly gestured towards a big screen showing a replay of the moment in angst, but the game then continued.
The team's captain, Sam Monaghan, said that she did speak to an official on the field in the wake of the alleged bite.
She said: “I spoke to the referee. Aoife told me, I didn't see it myself, but I spoke to the referee and asked them could they have a look at it. [The check] was through TMO.”
Ian Tempest was acting as the television match official (TMO), who uses footage to help the referee make decisions, during the quarter-finals.
Ireland try-scorer Stacey Flood said the decision was 'down to the officials on the day', telling BBC Sport: "We just have to get on with it and it's not our decision to make.
"I think it was said to the referee, but if it wasn't taken up then there's nothing we can do about it. We just have to live in the moment and focus on our next job."
The team's head coach, Scott Bemand, said he had not observed the incident and was 'not going to get drawn into anything at this point'.
"I think in terms of process, your on-pitch leadership would mention to the referee, and it's up to the team officials to deal with it should they see fit at that point," he said post-match. "If there are bits to pursue, we could potentially be disappointed, but we've followed the process as best we can from our perspective in terms of the on-pitch leadership conversations."
Berthoumieu's conduct on the field was branded a 'disgrace' by former England World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, who called for her to be punished if it is proved she tried to bite Wafer.
"I hate seeing that in the game," she said. "When it comes to a situation like that, it's very clear, she should be punished for that.
"It's sad because we've been celebrating the women's game in this World Cup. It's such a shame that the headlines will be dominated by the incident by a player who didn't need to do that."
French coach Gaelle Mignot also said she had not witnessed the incident unfold on the field.
A lot of social media users seem to think the incident is pretty cut and dry though, while one joked that it made football star Luis Suarez's repeated bites of players 'look like a nibble'.
Another said: "That's one way to get someone off the ball. France Rugby player biting Irish player as she was going to take that turnover. Surely a ban incoming."
A third added: "Despicable and disgusting act. Hopefully she gets a ban for it," while a fourth commented: "How this bite on Aoife Wafer wasn’t checked is madness. Poor look for the TMO."
However, others suggested that the alleged movement of Berthoumieu's mouth along Wafer's arm may have been blown out of proportion.
"While the picture looks incriminating, I doubt very much a bite was possible, with a gum shield in place," one viewer chimed in, as a second said: "You can't tell that is what is going on in a still picture. That could just be arm around a mouth."
According to the BBC, Berthoumieu has been cited for the alleged incident - and any action taken from here could result in her receiving a ban.
It would mean the flanker would miss out on the semi-final against England on Saturday (20 September).
LADbible has contacted France Rugby for comment.
Olivia Burke