Samoa escaped with a warning on Tuesday after a player blasted the World Cup scheduling as “like slavery, like the holocaust, like apartheid” on Twitter.
Tournament officials accepted an official apology from the team after centre Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono vented his anger on the micro-blogging service following Samoa’s loss to Wales on Sunday.
World Cup organisers called the comments inappropriate but said there would be no sanctions.
“While RWCL (Rugby World Cup Limited) believes the nature of the comments to be inappropriate and has warned the Samoa Rugby Union regarding future social media conduct, RWCL has accepted an official apology and is satisfied with the proactive measures that the Union has outlined to RWCL to address the matter,” a statement said.
“There will be no further action and RWCL considers the matter to be closed.”
Sapolu Fuimaono had been facing possible disciplinary action over his outburst over a timetable which gives the traditionally stronger teams longer intervals between games to maximise weekend TV audiences.
The Gloucester player was incensed that Samoa had just four days to recover from their previous game while Wales had a week. Samoa led 10-6 at half-time but faded in the second half as Wales won 17-10.
“IRB, Stop exploiting my people. Please, all we ask, is fairness. If they get a week, give us a week. Simple. #equ[al]ity #justice,” Sapolu Fuimaono tweeted, referring to the International Rugby Board.
Later he added: “Ok, it’s obvious the IRB are unjust. Wales get 7 days, we get 3. Unfair treatment, like slavery, like the holocaust, like apartheid.
“Give Wales 3 days off and give Samoa a week! We would kill them!
“You can’t get punished for speaking out against injustice. That would be unjust. Anyone can tackle a man. Try tackling injustice.”
The IRB had earlier defended its scheduling and said the Twitter tirade was disappointing.
The Welsh win over Samoa means that they are now in pole position to take the second qualifying spot from the tough Pool D, behind defending champions South Africa.
Several of the “tier two” nations, such as Canada, Georgia and Namibia, have also complained about the turn-around times between games, which they say discriminates against them.
The top teams from the Six Nations and Tri Nations tournaments in general have been accorded more time to recover between matches.
The IRB said the schedule took into account fan appeal, spread of matches across New Zealand and player welfare, as well as broadcast and commercial considerations.
“While it is unavoidable that some teams have a more compressed schedule than others, we have worked to ensure no team has two three-day periods in a row as well as minimising travel,” an IRB spokesman said.
“There are five teams that have 14 rest days or less, down from seven in 2007 and eight in 2003.”
Demands from broadcasters, who provide about 60 per cent of the IRB’s tournament revenue, are a major factor in the scheduling pile-up facing some teams, with pressure to play major nations in prime weekend spots.
The World Cup involves 20 teams split into four groups of five with the top two after a round-robin qualifying for the quarter-finals.
The controversy coincides with a similar row engulfing men’s tennis, with top players threatening strike action over their gruelling schedule.
ABFAN
Guest
IRB are playing the bully big kid here....warning samoa for the player outbust? sounds like a joke to me. The only reason they reacted to this, is because the guy used some interesting tone in his statement plus the whole world knew about it now. Apart from that I totally agree with Sapolu. Sometimes you need to be negative to get your point across. As far I remember other coaches and island stars in the past sound their frustration in a positive way, but it always never look at it. I remembered the great Ice Man (michael Jones) himself tried to convinced the IRB about playing test match against the tier1 nations often and release players for test matches....but IRB never looked into it. I must say that out of all the countries in the RWC, the samoan contribute heaps to rugby considering their population's only 180000. look at the mighty AB, super rugby teams, euro clubs...they all have samoan players in them. WHY? it is because they are built for rugby and they are naturaly great at it. If the IRB are smart enough they should do something about it, because without them the RWC gonna miss that flair and bone crunchy tackles that the fans love to watch no matter where they from.
Johnno
Guest
Yes making money or paying the bills is a relaity of course. And rugby union will get bigger, in the next 25 years. 7evens olympics to, HEK getting bigger. But rugby now the mass population are now aware of the unequal scheduling and the impacts this has, after the Samoa V Wales match , the IRB have problems. Samoa like Wales are a team outside the big 5 that when switched on now have the talent to win a world cup. ANd now people no about the unequal scheduling and it's impacts, the IRB now have a problem. If they want the RWC to maintain credibility and legiticiamacy, and i would say tv ratings $$$ and mass interest long term$$$$ it is going ot have to work out a fair scheduling system, i can't see it having choice. because as new teams get better they can not have an uneven schedule to maintaing the RWCups legitimacy. Otherwise the the cup will be seen as a farce and uneven, and people won't take the winner seriously as they know they most likely had an easier draw. IRB have big problems with this and have to sort it out. find a fair way, they have no choose if they want the tournament to make moment long term and maintain credibility and legitimacy. Samoa was a world cup contender seemingly gone now on the bases of haveing a small population , which means less tv ratings hardly fair. And now big teams are getting better, USA russia canada, what's next will Irleand wales be short changed and scotland. So big problems the IRB face with future RWC if it wants it to survive. but rugby is making big money and growing and 7evens via olympics is helping brogan in cahs to and rugby getting bigger so they will work out ways to make money form future world cups. FIFA soccer world cup have a fair draw.
kovana
Guest
"The IRB had earlier defended its scheduling" How can they defend something that is clearly wrong? ----------------------- "The IRB said the schedule took into account player welfare, " Lol.. What rubbish. Yet they give some teams More days rest than others? Where is the player welfare in that? Cant they just be honest and say.. 'we are screwing you over Samoa, Canada etc with the the time tables SO that we can get more money that can be later be used to be pumped into each of your respective Rugby Unions after this tournament.' Just tell it like it is, we all understand the need to grow the game.