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Friday, January 16, 1998 Published at 13:32 GMT



Sport: Rugby Union

London Scottish clear Mendez of 'ear-biting' allegation
image: [ Kevin Yates has been suspended on full pay until a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday ]
Kevin Yates has been suspended on full pay until a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday

London Scottish have cleared Bath's Argentinian hooker Federico Mendez over the alleged Simon Fenn ear-biting incident.

London Scottish officials initially cited Mendez, together with his front row colleagues Kevin Yates and Victor Ubogu, after flanker Fenn was left requiring 25 stitches to the lower part of his left ear.

The injury was sustained in last Saturday's Tetley's Bitter Cup fourth round tie.

Bath have suspended Yates on full pay, pending a disciplinary hearing next Tuesday, and exonerated Ubogu and Mendez. However, both players are considering legal action against London Scottish for the original allegations.

Scottish removed Ubogu from the citation document earlier this week.

Like Ubogu, Mendez immediately protested his innocence as Scottish came to terms with how Fenn's horrendous injury might have happened.

"It wasn't me, definitely," Mendez said. "I heard rumours on the Saturday evening, but even then I was not too sure what had happened.

"During the game, I consulted the touch judge to try and find out what happened."

Whatever the outcome of Bath's disciplinary meeting, the RFU has pledged a full investigation of their own, although they have already told Scottish to prove which player might have been responsible for causing Fenn's injury.

Meanwhile, London Scottish say Fenn has suffered a temporary loss of hearing in his left ear and is "upset and depressed" about reports that the injury may not have been caused by a bite.

In a statement, the club said: "In response to numerous enquiries about their player's injury, London Scottish would like to add that Simon Fenn is making a good recovery under the circumstances."


 





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