RFU council member punished for post about Alphonsi
Key takeaways
- Alphonsi has also worked for BBC Sport and written for the Daily Telegraph.
- A three-person disciplinary panel judged that Smith, whose profile picture was of him wearing an England-branded top, had breached the council's code of conduct.
- It stipulates a "zero-tolerance approach" to discrimination and harassment and forbids public comment that could damage the game or the RFU's reputation.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Alphonsi has also worked for BBC Sport and written for the Daily Telegraph. A member of the Rugby Football Union council has been stripped of the perks of his position for seven months – including tickets to England games, free meals and travel expenses – after posting discriminatory criticism of television pundit Maggie Alphonsi.
Matthew Smith, who represents Warwickshire on the 62-strong body, asked "can someone please explain to me WTF does Maggie Alphonsi know about men's rugby?" in a Facebook post during coverage of France's 48-46 win over England in March.
A three-person disciplinary panel judged that Smith, whose profile picture was of him wearing an England-branded top, had breached the council's code of conduct.