Stade Français president, Max Guazzini, has always been renowned for his flamboyancy and eccentricity. Indeed, it was his idea to get the Top 14 side wearing those infamously suspect Andy Worhol-inspired kits which raised more than a few eyebrows – and probably caused a few seizures – back in 2008.
For all his creative nous, though, the would-be fashion-designer, Guazzini, has endured a very troubled week and probably feels - in typically dramatic fashion - that the whole world is against him.
Never one to sit on the fence, the French entrepreneur has accused the RFU of keeping flanker James Haskell “prisoner” and even described the whole situation as “blackmail”. Strong words from the colourful Frenchman, whose attempts at persuading England to release the player have so far been futile.
Guazzini is furious that England are unwilling to release the 24-year-old for club duty this weekend as Stade prepare for their crucial top-flight match against the fearsome Toulouse.
A defeat for the French side this weekend would seriously dent their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Heineken Cup; and the club president is up in arms that England want to hold on to Haskell this Saturday, despite the team not being involved in Six Nations action for another week.
The RFU are standing firm on the matter, convinced that they have the right to prevent the flanker from playing for his club side, despite Stade being the ones that pay his wages.
However, when prompted to comment on the situation, Haskell himself was reluctant. "If Max wants to talk, that is up to him," the England flanker stated.
His near-silence speaks volumes.
And if Guazzini isn’t suitably irritated already by that particular episode, then yesterday’s news that his prop, David Attoub, has lost his appeal against his huge 70-week ban would have been nearly enough to tip him over the edge.
Attoub was, in his own unique way, appealing against the punishment handed down on him after he gouged the eyes of Stephen Ferris earlier in this season’s Heineken Cup.
The France international showed no remorse throughout the investigation, even during yesterday’s appeal hearing in London; and the inevitable statement that his ban had been upheld soon followed.
Guazzini had accused the judge who made the initial ruling, Jeff Blackett, of “anti-French bias” and will no doubt have something to say off the back of this latest ruling.
With all of these recent events taking their toll on poor old Max, expect to see the wronged president vocally leading the celebrations if/when France beat England in the final match of this year’s Six Nations.
Sadly, that looks about as inevitable as Attoub receiving a lengthy ban - or another eye-offending Stade Français kit being released.
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