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Even by his standards, Mourad Boudjellal's latest tantrum is particularly childish
By James Harrington
Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal declared war on Sunday matches after watching his side slump to a 40-29 home defeat against Racing 92 at the weekend.
"If [French Top 14 pay-TV broadcaster] Canal + decides to schedule a program Sunday, we will declare a forfeit. I won't play on Sundays anymore if we don't get fair compensation," comic-book magnate Boudjellal said as he let fly against the fixture list in front of surprised journalists at a midweek press conference at the club's Berg training ground.
And the prospect of relegation to the ProD2 - an automatic penalty if a club forfeits three matches - did not faze him.
"We'll be relegated to the second division. I won't back down. Whatever happens, I don't care. If we play on Sundays, we'll be relegated to the second division, I couldn't care less.
"I'm fed up with being the Top 14's money pit."
TV rights in France have seen six of Toulon's 10 Top 14 games so far scheduled for Sunday afternoon. To add insult to injury, after playing the final match of last weekend at teatime on Sunday, they face Castres Olympique in the opening match of the 11th round of fixtures early Saturday afternoon.
He claimed the schedule was playing merry hell with much-needed ticket sales. A crowd of 13,000 were at Stade Mayol to see the match against Racing 92. Saturday afternoon matches attract audiences of more than 16,000.
"On Sunday at Mayol the stadium was empty. For two years now we have been put in difficulty over Sunday matches. We have a system based on ticket sales, merchandising (but) some people at the League have decided to kill us."
Boudjellal vowed to write to French sports minister Laura Flessel, the former Olympic champion fencer, to air his grievances.
His mood was not improved when he learned that Toulon's next home match - against Lyon on December 2 - is to be broadcast free-to-air in France.
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Thought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
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