The assault on a journalist at the Stade Jean-Alric has taken a new turn. The French Rugby Federation’s appeal committee has ordered Stade Aurillacois to play one match behind closed doors and to pay a 10,000-euro fine. The club says it will take the case to the CNOSF.

The incident dates back to 27 March, at the end of the Pro D2 match between Aurillac and Biarritz (24-27). While reporting live on the Biarritz win, a journalist from ICI Pays basque was struck in the face by a supporter, before colleagues and security staff intervened. A complaint was filed.

At first instance, the LNR had fined the Cantal club 16,600 euros and imposed a suspended ground closure for “disturbances caused inside the stadium”. Aurillac appealed. Meeting on 25 June, the FFR appeal committee reduced the fine to 10,000 euros but turned the suspended sentence into an immediate one: their next home league match will be played in a completely empty Stade Jean-Alric.

In a statement, president Christian Millette “firmly” condemned the assault, while calling the appeal ruling “particularly unfair, disproportionate and inappropriate”, given that the investigation has so far failed to identify those responsible. The club says it will refer the matter “as soon as possible” to the CNOSF, the French national olympic committee, for mediation — a required step before any appeal to the administrative courts.