In a surprising turn of events, South African rugby star Makazole Mapimpi lost his cool during a heated encounter with Cardiff Rugby’s young player, Efan Daniel, in a match on January 25.
The usually calm and collected Springbok winger was involved in a controversial incident that has left many questioning his conduct on the field.
The Sharks secured a comfortable 42-22 victory over Cardiff, but the fallout from the clash continues to stir debate.
The Controversial Incident and Allegations of Eye Gouging
During the second half of the match, tensions flared when Mapimpi clashed with 22-year-old Daniel following a penalty call in Cardiff’s favor.
In a now-viral video, the 34-year-old South African player collided with Daniel, and a physical altercation quickly followed.
Daniel, in the heat of the moment, managed to rip Mapimpi’s shirt off.
The situation escalated as the two players exchanged heated words and even swiped at each other’s faces.
The situation took an even darker turn when Wales Online reported that Mapimpi had allegedly attempted to “eye gouge” Daniel during the altercation. This claim has divided opinions on social media, with some fans supporting the allegation, while others vehemently disagreed. Critics on social media were quick to call Mapimpi a “rugby thug,” with one Welsh critic tweeting that he could be one of the sport’s biggest thugs due to the alleged eye gouge.
A Divided Response from Fans and Supporters
The backlash against Mapimpi has been swift, with some supporters calling for a ban.
“That is simply an eye gouge.
No other way of putting it,” tweeted one user, while another suggested that the South African star should face a long suspension for the incident.
However, many fans disagreed with the accusations and defended Mapimpi, claiming that he had done nothing wrong.
Some even implied that it was Daniel who may have attempted to gouge Mapimpi’s eye first.
Interestingly, neither Mapimpi nor Sharks coach John Plumtree made any public comments about the altercation after the game, and the incident has not been widely discussed in official channels.
A History of Controversy
This isn’t the first time Mapimpi has found himself in the center of a controversy surrounding eye gouging.
Back in 2022, the Springbok winger was banned for four weeks after being found guilty of eye gouging Bordeaux-Bègles scrumhalf Maxime Lucu.
The European Rugby Champions Cup disciplinary committee upheld the citing, stating that Mapimpi had made reckless contact with Lucu’s eye area, which warranted a red card.
The ban was later reduced to two weeks after an appeal.
The Serious Consequences of Eye Gouging
Eye gouging is considered one of the most severe forms of foul play in rugby.
According to World Rugby, it is a serious offense that falls under the category of dangerous play and misconduct.
The consequences for such an offense can range from a four-week ban to a suspension of up to three years, depending on the severity of the incident and the player’s disciplinary history.
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