A French rugby league player who knocked a referee unconscious in April has been banned for life.
The French Federation handed out the suspension to St Esteve player Hedi Ouedjdi for swinging a punch at referee Benjamin Casty, brother of France international and Catalans Dragons captain Remi Casty.
​Ouedjdi floored Casty with one punch after being sent off in a cup semi-final against Toulouse last month.
Video footage then showed him swinging punches at opposition players who confronted him about the incident.Â
"The player not only undermined the physical integrity of a referee, Benjamin Casty, but also tainted the image of a sport that had not experienced such a reprehensible act," said a spokesman.
"FFR XIII is determined not to grant any forgiveness to players, leaders or supporters who do not respect the decisions of a referee, whose difficult role is measured every weekend."
Ouedjdi could face more trouble, with Casty bringing a civil complaint.
Telegraph UK