Bruno Doglioli is to face the wrath of the Italian judiciary for a shocking tackle on referee Maria Beatrice Benvenuti during a game between Venezia Rangers and Valsugana in the Italian Serie A on the weekend. Originally from Argentina, Doglioli has been in Italy since joining Petrarca Padova in 2005 and his actions are even more disturbing given that he is currently club captain at Rangers. While the player had already received a yellow card during the match, the tackle appears to have been completely unprovoked with Doglioli flying into the back of Benvenuti with a dangerous shoulder charge.

Benvenuti, 23, is one of Italy’s brightest young referees having already appeared on the HSBC Sevens Series and in August was part of the match officials team selected by World Rugby to take charge of the inaugural Olympic Sevens tournament in Brazil. She reportedly suffered whiplash during the incident but completed the match.

The club has now suspended Doglioli indefinitely and condemned the act in a statement on social media.

“Rangers Rugby Vicenza, in the light of the behavior of their athlete of the first team Bruno Doglioli, suspend the player from any type of activity and condemns firmly the act, contrary to the values of the club and this sport.” (translated from Italian)

Italian media sources have suggested that the maximum penalty that Doglioli could face is a 36-month suspension, but World Rugby Regulation 17 clearly states that the maximum sanction for physical abuse of a match official is life, with a mid-range suspension of 48 matches and top-end entry point of 96 matches. In any event, with Doglioli set to turn 35 years of age in March it appears his professional playing career is set to come to an abrupt and undignified end.

EDIT: The Italian Rugby Federation has confirmed that a 36-month suspension has been levied on Doglioli, the maximum allowed by internal regulations. However it is also stated that ‘the expiration of the ban is subject to extension’ should the player seek renewal with the player’s membership effectively revoked indefinitely.

“DOGLIOLI BRUNO ANDRES, della RUGBY VICENZA ASD, segnalato dall’arbitro, infraz. Art. 027/01 lett. F) (AGGRESSIONE ARBITRO), VENTIQUATTRO MESI DI INTERDIZIONE, viste le circostanze aggravanti di cui all’art. 010/01 lett. C) (CIRC.AGGRAV.MOTIVI FUTILI) e 027/02 lett. B) (CIRC.AGG.VULNERABILITÀ), TRENTASEI MESI DI INTERDIZIONE (dal 12/12/2016 all’11 Dicembre 2019 compresi). La scadenza della interdizione è soggetta a prolungamento in applicazione della Delibera Federale n. 100/2012 che dà continuità all’esecuzione della interdizione se il soggetto interdetto rinnovi il tesseramento entro il 31 luglio della stagione sportiva successiva.”