Watch: Pau coach facing long ban after physically accosting referee

Pau head coach Sébastien Piqueronies is facing a citing complaint for physically abusing referee Sam Grove-White during a recent match. The incident, which occurred during the second half of their match against the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup, was caught on video by a spectator and quickly went viral on social media.

In the video, Piqueronies can be seen yelling and gesturing angrily at Grove-White before grabbing him and shoving him. Players from both teams rushed to intervene, but Piqueronies continued to shout and gesture at the referee before being escorted off the field.

Grove-White, who was shaken but not seriously injured in the incident, immediately reported the physical abuse to the match officials. A citing complaint was subsequently filed against Piqueronies, who now faces a possible ban from coaching.

The incident has sparked outrage among fans and players alike, with many calling for Piqueronies to be punished severely for his actions. The head coach, who has a history of volatile behaviour on the sidelines, has apologised for his actions but many believe that an apology is not enough.

In a statement, the Pau club expressed their disappointment and regret over the incident, and pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation into Piqueronies' conduct. They also announced that they would be taking disciplinary action against the coach, though they did not specify what that action would be.

The citing complaint against Piqueronies will now be reviewed by a disciplinary committee, who will decide on an appropriate punishment. Depending on the severity of the offence, Piqueronies could face a ban from coaching, a fine, or even criminal charges.

Regardless of the outcome, the incident has once again brought the issue of player and coach behaviour in professional sports to the forefront, and many are calling for stricter regulations and sanctions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The incident has been shared by Jared Wright on Twitter: