Aviva Premiership
Fuimaono-Sapolu charged by RFU
ESPNscrum Staff
November 4, 2011

Gloucester centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has been hit with three charges of misconduct relating to controversial comments made online.

The Samoan international was last month hit with a suspended six-month man after taking to social networking site Twitter during the Rugby World Cup to criticise the International Rugby Board (IRB) and question the impartiality of Welsh referee Nigel Owens.

However, he has now been summoned to appear before a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel on Monday after making a series of derogatory comments about Saracens centre Owen Farrell after Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash between their two sides at Kingsholm, as well as launching attacks on rugby's disciplinary process, the World Cup and the IRB.

An RFU statement read: "Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu of Gloucester Rugby has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game contrary to Rule 5.12 of the Rules of the Rugby Football Union.

"The charges against Fuimaono-Sapolu are that: On October 29 and 30, 2011 he made, or adopted from other users of Twitter, insulting or provocative comments about Owen Farrell, a professional rugby player, on his Twitter account.

"Between October 27 and 31, 2011 he made, or adopted from other users of Twitter, critical or sarcastic comments about the rugby disciplinary process on his Twitter account.

"Between October 25 and 27, 2011 he made, or adopted from other users of Twitter, critical comments about the Rugby World Cup and the International Rugby Board on his Twitter account."

Fuimaono-Sapolu first made headlines after his country's defeat by Wales when he lashed out at the IRB, labelling its treatment of Samoa as akin to "slavery, the holocaust and apartheid". The 31-year-old midfield ace then accused referee Nigel Owens of racism and bias after the Islanders' defeat by South Africa at the end of the pool stages.

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