Video: French rugby player faces lifetime ban for knocking out ref with punch

The shocking incident occurred during a junior game.

A rugby player in France may be banned from the sport for life after knocking out a referee with a punch to the face, according to the Independent. 

The unnamed player for Saint-Esteve punched the referee after being shown a yellow card and proceeded to punch opposing players who confronted him. The ref, Benjamin Casty, laid motionless on the ground as the players brawled around him. Casty was taken to a hospital and the match was called off after 25 minutes of play. 

The shocking incident occurred during a match in the French junior cup last week. Video of the punch emerged Thursday. 

This makes @gazhock12 look like a saint! Wonder what grade the RFL would give this one @drmarwanK the alphabet probably not long enough!👊😩 pic.twitter.com/4Fj61nAmf2

— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) April 27, 2017

Saint-Esteve’s club president resigned in the wake of the incident. The president, Christian Cozza, also said that the player had already been suspended four games this season. 

Saint-Esteve is a feeder club for the Catalans Dragons, who are led by Remi Casty, the brother of the referee involved in the incident.