An ice hockey player has been banned by his own team for elbowing and then fighting an opponent at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
The French Olympic ice hockey team have told Pierre Crinon he will be excluded for the rest of the Games for a “clear violation of the Olympic spirit”.
In the first outbreak of violence on the ice in Milan, Crinon, the France defenceman, came to blows with Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon and Tom Wilson.
France were trailing 10-2 to Canada late in the third period when Crinon elbowed MacKinnon in the face. Wilson then responded by smashing Crinon into the boards before the pair then dropped the gloves and began exchanging punches.
Officials had to intervene to stop Crinon, before ejecting him from the match – Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Fighting is commonplace and largely allowed in elite ice hockey but at the Olympics, it results in an automatic ejection.
Hockey France appears to have taken issue with Crinon winding up the pro-Canada crowd as he was led back to the locker room.
The federation announced that Crinon will not suit up for France again at this tournament.
“Regarding the match penalty for which he was sanctioned, the federation acknowledges the decision of the international federation – the body competent to rule on breaches of the rules of the game during the Olympic Games – not to take any further action against the players concerned,” said a statement.
“Nevertheless, the FFHG [French hockey federation] intends to remind everyone of the values of every player wearing the French national team jersey, as well as their duty to set an example, particularly during the Olympic Games.
“Therefore, Pierre Crinon’s provocative behaviour upon leaving the ice, even though he had just been ejected from the game for fighting, constitutes a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values of our sport. Consequently, a decision has been made, in full agreement with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, not to allow his participation in the upcoming Olympic tournament game(s).”
Viewers in the United States reportedly missed footage of the fight because the streaming service Peacock interrupted the game with a commercial break. France face Germany next for a place against Slovakia in the quarter-finals.