New Zealand officials reacted with outrage yesterday and called for an inquiry after French rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud admitted his claim of being attacked by thugs in Wellington was a lie.
The 20-year-old said on Thursday in a statement on the Web site of his French club Stade Francais that a cut and bruising on his face was caused by a fall in his room after drinking with team-mates early on Sunday.
Originally Bastareaud claimed he had been set upon by up to five people as he was returning to the team hotel, hours after France had lost a Test against the All Blacks.
Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast said she was outraged over the damage done to the city’s reputation and the New Zealand Rugby Union called on the French Rugby Federation to investigate the incident.
Bastareaud, who left the team on Monday and returned to France, apologized and said he had panicked and “dug himself deeper into a hole” after the incident.
“I was ashamed and panicked and I thought I would be sent packing by the team management. I did not want my family to be ashamed,” he said.
He added he decided to tell the truth because of the big media interest in the story.
But Wellington area police commander Pete Cowan said the player had been forced to retract his story after the results of the police investigation were given to the French Rugby Federation on Thursday.
“We outlined our findings, which showed Mr Bastareaud’s allegations were pure fabrication and suggested Mr Bastareaud reconsider his position,” Cowan told Radio New Zealand. “Mr Bastareaud has not come out overnight and apologized out of the goodness of his heart.”
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