WATCH: Lengthy ban for vicious tackle on female referee - Ruck

WATCH: Lengthy ban for vicious tackle on female referee

The Argentinian rugby player Bruno Doglioli has been banned for three years for his vicious tackle on a female referee during an Italian club game.

Doglioli was suspended by his Italian club Vicenza after only receiving a yellow card for a no-arms tackle on Maria Beatrice Benvenuti. Benvenuti was taken to hospital after suffering whiplash.



Vicenza were playing against Italian Serie A side Valsugana last week.

Doglioli has now been banned by the Italian Rugby Federation, who punishment is the longest ban imposed in Italian rugby in the last 20 years. The IRF condemned the act of violence against Benvenuti and said Doglioli not only breached the rules of rugby but also contradiced the values of sport.

The 23-year-old is a regular referee in the Italian Serie A and officiated in the Women’s World Cup in 2014 as well as the Olympic Sevens.