Farcical scenes as Six Nations match between France and Ireland abandoned
Referee Dave Pearson speaks to Ireland coach Declan Kidney. Picture: Getty
THE Stade de France was the centre of farcical scenes last night when Ireland’s RBS Six Nations match against France was postponed just ten minutes before kick-off.
Referee Dave Pearson made his decision after deeming sections of the pitch to be unplayable following days of sub-zero temperatures in Paris.
The surface passed an inspection at 3pm on Friday and 6.30pm last night, but Pearson felt the conditions then deteriorated sufficiently to postpone the game. The decision was greeted with a chorus of boos when it was announced 20 minutes later to a full and disbelieving Stade de France.
Six Nations officials have confirmed the match will be staged during one of the tournament’s break weekends, either 18 and 19 February or 3 and 4 March.
The finger-pointing started soon after, with the French Rugby Federation highlighting Pearson’s role while Six Nations stressed it was the official’s decision alone.
A shambolic situation was made worse when a Six Nations official refused to answer questions on what had occurred beyond reading a statement at a hastily-convened press conference.
“The match was cancelled following the advice of the referee Mr Pearson. He inspected it yesterday and all was fine,” read the statement. “He inspected again today at 7pm and it was still fine but when he inspected it just a few minutes before kick-off, he found the pitch was frozen in a few areas.
“He ruled that it was dangerous and this is why it was postponed.
“It is very important to let fans know to keep their tickets and they will be valid for the game when we have a new date.”
Pearson was absent from the press conference and FFR president Pierre Camou left little doubt over who he felt was responsible for the chaotic scenes.
“It’s very sad. I don’t understand why the referee has not shown up,” said Camou. “I am worried that two hours before kick-off everything seemed fine. I’m thinking of all the fans who have come from afar.
“We always take responsibility for the pitches but we are not responsible for the decision to call it off. I’m not sure the argument of safety is suddenly a good one at 8pm. Today a Six Nations game in Italy was played in the snow and the referee was French.”
However, former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan exonerated Pearson, claiming he was left with no alternative but to call the game off. Instead, O’Sullivan felt the FFR were to blame for an episode that “beggars belief”.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
RAIDERJAMBO
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:57 PMHikes, aye these little suricate are everywhere, but whatever, don't ever refer to them as being simples. They're nasty little members of the mongoose family. Almost forgot, they hate cold weather also!
The Hiker
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:05 PMRaiderjambo The difference between climate, and weather is that climate is measured over decade and centuries, and weather's measured over hours and days. In the words of the Meercat, SIMPLES. Don't get too hung up on the "statistics" word. I didn't say I believed in the "global warming" thoery. I was simply pointing out the difference between "climate" and "weather", and the fact that the current cold spell, has got little to do with climate change.
RAIDERJAMBO
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM#21, Hey hitch. Very nice, however........ There is a general perception that statistical knowledge is all too frequently intentionally misused by finding ways to interpret only the data that is favorable to the presenter. There are are two kinds of lies; damned lies and statistics. After all Scottish meat pies are great, if you know the person that made them, and are sure of the ingredients.
The Hiker
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:12 AM# 20 Raiderjambo. Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, pressure, wind, rainfall,in a given region over LONG PERIODS, ie years decades and centuries. Climate can be contrasted to weather, which is the present condition of these elements and their variations over short periods of hours and days. In other words, the fact that it's very very cold in parts of Europe at this time, ( measured in a few weeks) doesn't alter the fact the the mean earth temperatures, measured over decades and centuries is increasing, and increasing at a rate that can be clearly measured. It's a historical fact that there was a "mini ice age", in the 16th and 17th century. It's a historical fact that the river Thames in London foze over almost every year in winter, during the 19th century. Such an event today is perhaps once a decade. It's a historical fact that, where I come from in Scotland, it snowed almost each and every year, and we had snow on the ground for weeks most winters, (in the 1960s). Today we occasionally see snow on the ground for a day or two, SOME winters. That's the difference between climate and weather!! The Hiker.
RAIDERJAMBO
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 05:05 PM#16, Sorry mate, is that like the difference between a meteorologist and a weatherman?
Petekingbonga
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 02:15 PM15 Phil C, Comment offensive and well out of order! The ref did not pick the match time or the venue, Would you have said the same of a Welsh or Irish ref? You make me sick, another disgraceful low level racist comment towards the English from a Scot on these forums. Will you apologize?
CASHKING7
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:58 PMOrganised chaos, whoever is responsible for A) scheduling this as an evening match. B) letting the Pitch get frozen in this day and age. C) Not thinking about Fans and costs. Should be sacked. incompetence beyond belief.
Zworm
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:53 PMPlayed on frozen ground not fun. These guys are professionals and their living and the futures of their clubs depend on their health. Decision should have been made and it was correct. No one said it was easy. I am sure the ref was ready to go as well!
The Hiker
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:45 PM# 6. RaiderJambo. Like so many buffoons on this subject, you confuse climate with weather. On subject, yes, I agree with many, a 2100 hrs kick off, in mid winter is mad.... My sympathies are with both sets of fans. Remember rugby is played predominantly in the South West of France, so a lot of French supporters also travelled a long way, paid for accomodation, etc. The Hiker.
Phil C
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:30 PMAnother English f**kwit ref!
harlequin
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:18 AMWho is going to compensate all the Irish fans who have spent £500 - £1000 travelling to Paris,flights,accomodationtickets aren't cheap,I have read nothing about financial compensation,the lack of undersoil heating is a disgrace,either fully re-emburse the fans or award the game to Ireland.
philiptaylor
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10:46 AMThe weather is unually cold for Paris. However, the temperature has been below freezing for over a week now and to stage an evening (night) game under such circumstances was madness. That the game was called off because of safety concerns for the players shows that the 6 Nations organisers have little regard for fans who turn up to watch. It should have been called off by the organisers in the morning as by then they knew that the temperature would not get above -5 for the whole day. It was a very difficult decision for Dave Pearson to call. Whether he got it right or not we will never know but for me it was probably right.
bumpkin
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10:10 AMa 9pm kick off (french time) was utter madness in february. no one bothers about the fans, just the tv. all the games should be played on a saturday , kicking off between 1pm and 4pm. night games and sunday games are useless for travelling support. the last game i remember being called off for weather was jan 95 , scotland v eng at twickenham i think. eng were bad in autumn 94, and scotland could have taken them in january, but they had sorted themselves out by march when we travell;ed down for the grand slam decider. and we lost.
View From The Shed
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:51 AMDid the Ref not ask for a weather forecast late afternoon to see if the temperature was likely to lead to frost and the possibility that the ground would freeze? Were the team managers and Captains consulted and inspected the pitch at the same time as the Ref decided it was unplayable? These questions are not answered in the article but important to the ultimate decision to cancel. Strange the Ref not wanting to make a statement backing up his decision.
McMillan Brown
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:19 AMI believe that the stadium is built on a former municipal dump in St. Denis, meaning that installation of undersoil heating was not permitted on environmental grounds. For the previous occasion when they had to warm the grass (versus England, when they had to bring in blowers from England) the kick-off was at the traditional afternoon time. Therein lies the explanation for this disappointment.
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