HEINEKEN CUP chiefs are making no comment on Saracens boss Brendan Venter’s post-match television interview after his team lost to French club Racing Metro.
Venter refused to offer any opinions during the minute-long exchange at Vicarage Road on Saturday, often answering a question by merely repeating the question.
It has been interpreted by many as Venter’s protest against a €25,000 fine imposed by European Rugby Cup for being “inappropriately critical of ERC, the tournament, match officials and the sport of rugby union” following the Pool Two game against Leinster at Wembley in October.
Some €15,000 of that fine was suspended until June 30th, 2012, after South African Venter was found guilty of misconduct at a subsequent disciplinary hearing.
After his latest performance, Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths said: “That’s what you call an ERC-style interview.”
An ERC spokesman said yesterday: “All games in round three of both tournaments (Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup) are being reviewed at the moment, as is customary. There is no comment on any specific matter relating to any one game at this point.”
Venter, who will leave his post at Saracens next month, incurred ERC’s wrath following the Leinster match with comments made to the media.
Venter was furious at the performance of French referee Christophe Berdos in the 25-23 defeat against Leinster. He warned the International Rugby Board the game was in danger of being ruined by confusion over the interpretation of the breakdown area.
Venter told reporters: “Before the Heineken Cup began, I asked if we would have a conference so all the officials from abroad were in tune as to the new interpretations of the laws. Instead, we got some European referees in the Premiership, but there is a real danger that if we don’t take action going into a World Cup year, the game of rugby is going to die, be killed stone dead because the public won’t come to watch.
“We will end up playing one type of rugby in the league, another in Europe and when you get to the World Cup, wait and see which referee you get.”
