Team France bans their own player for his actions vs. Team Canada
Photo credit: Geoff Burke - Imagn Images
Team Canada’s last game against France saw an extremely rare Olympic fight, and now the French National Team is taking action against their own player.
Tom Wilson dropped the gloves for a semi-fight against French defenceman Pierre Crinon. There was speculation the IOC themselves would dish out punishments as fighting is strictly prohibited, but no suspensions will be coming to Wilson. That didn’t stop France from making a move though.
Team France bans their own player for fighting Tom Wilson
France explained their decision to ban Crinon for violating the spirit of the Olympic Games with his dirty hit against Nathan MacKinnon and the subsequent fight.
Pierre Crinon's provocative behavior when he came out of the ice, even though he had just been excluded from the match for a fight, is a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values of our sport.
A decision was therefore made, in full alignment with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, not to authorize his participation for the next meeting(s) of the Olympic tournament.
- Hockey France
A decision was therefore made, in full alignment with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, not to authorize his participation for the next meeting(s) of the Olympic tournament.
- Hockey France
It’s shocking to see a national team take this harsh action against their own player, especially when the Olympics themselves decided that no punishment was necessary. It shows just how much France disliked Crinon’s behaviour on the ice.
Crinon smoked MacKinnon with a high hit, and then he was the one to provoke the fight against Wilson. Team Canada was just standing up for themselves and their teammates in comparison.
According to other fan sources online, Crinon has a reputation for such plays even in the French league.
It’s honestly commendable for the French to remove this player from their team, indicating that he isn’t a player they want representing their country on the international stage.
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