Hedi Ouedjdi a French rugby league player given a ban for life after horrific punch knocks out referee and puts him in hospital

 Saint-Esteve junior player knocked out referee Benjamin Casty in French Cup tie
 Hedi Ouedjdi was sent off in a cup semi-final against Toulouse last month
 French Federation spokesman said he undermined physical integrity of a referee
 Casty was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries to his cheekbone and jaw

Saint-Esteve junior player knocks out referee Benjamin Casty in French Cup tie
Casty was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries to his cheekbone and jaw
f punches after Ouedjdi knocked out Benjamin Casty cold before attacking opposition players in an incident that has disgraced the sport.

Ouedjdi was playing for Saint-Esteve in a French Cup match against Toulouse at junior level when the incident, which was caught on camera, took place.

Referee Benjamin Casty, brother of Catalan Dragons star Remi Casty, was attacked after sending the player to the sin-bin for making an obscene gesture to the crowd.

Footage shows the referee fall to the floor then lie motionless after a single punch from the player, believed to be aged 21. When the opposition ran to confront the rampaging lout, he responded by throwing a flurry of punches at another player before he was finally hauled down and subdued. The game was abandoned.

St-Esteve president Christian Cozza later revealed that the player had already been suspended earlier this season and claimed he did not want him to play in the match.

Cozza also announced his resignation in response to the incident.

He said: 'This player had already been suspended four games earlier in the season and I did not want him to play.'

Casty was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for injuries to his cheekbone and miraculously avoided a broken jaw.

The French Federation handed out the suspension to St Esteve player Hedi Ouedjdi for swinging a punch at referee Benjamin Casty, brother of France international and Catalans Dragons captain Remi Casty, after being sent off in a cup semi-final against Toulouse last month.
"The player not only undermined the physical integrity of a referee, Benjamin Casty, but also tainted the image of a sport that had not experienced such a reprehensible act," said a spokesman.
"FFR XIII is determined not to grant any forgiveness to players, leaders or supporters who do not respect the decisions of a referee, whose difficult role is measured every weekend."
Ouedjdi could face more trouble, with Casty bringing a civil complaint.

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