'I'm no racist or cheat' - World Cup ref slams Samoan tweeter

Samoan Rugby World Cup centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is once again in hot water for comments on social networking website Twitter.

Last night the IRB confirmed the controversial player will face a misconduct hearing for alleged breaches of the tournament code of conduct in relation to comments made about referee Nigel Owens following Samoa's close loss to South Africa on Friday.

Fuimaono-Sapolu reacted to Owen's decision to send off Samoa's Paul Williams after he retaliated to a barrage of punches from South Africa's Heinrick Brussow.

Following the game, Fuimaono-Sapolu let rip on the social networking website, as well as sharing the tweets of his supporters with his followers.

"Wow! Just watched the game! Man we got some horrible calls.
"[It] wasn't about world cup today. RWC has been invalidated when they give us half the rest as the rich. It was about us v world champs.

"Get s.a into next round. The plan was obvious. Can't wait 2 meet irb members in public."

In others, he called Owens a "racist, biased prick" and the Rugby World Cup a "f***ing joke".

Fuimaono-Sapolu was confident of winning the misconduct hearing.

"Take all the circumstances and context. This is an easy case. Bring it."

Asked on Twitter whether he was concerned about defamation action against him for his comments, Fuimaono-Sapolu was equally defiant.

"Bring it. It'll bring his referring performance under the microscope should he choose that path. I welcome that."

Fuimaono-Sapolu said Owens should never have refereed the game as the result of the game was pivotal in determining whether his native Wales qualified for the next round.

"[I] feel for him a bit. He's a victim of IRB script writing. He shouldve never refereed that game given the conflict of interest."

Owens hit back on his Facebook page, telling supporters: "I go out to referee every game to the best of my ability. Fairly and honest, just like the way I have been bought up to be. I am human and will make mistakes on the field, and will hold my hand up when I do, and if I do that I shall have no regrets. But one thing I am not is racist and a cheat. I am the last person who would be racist, am gay and know what its like to be in the minority. So please get your facts right before you comment. Thankyou."

Following the game Owens told supporters it was the "hardest game I've ever had to ref".

The misconduct hearing will be heard by Englishman Jeff Blackett. The date and time is yet to be confirmed.

The charge follows a previous warning issued to the Samoa Rugby Union about Fuimaono-Sapolu for comments he made calling quick turnarounds between games akin to the Holocaust and apartheid, while last week he slammed the IRB for the $10,000 fine issued to teammate Alesana Tuilagi for wearing a branded mouth guard.

Sapolu told the Herald on Sunday that his tweets were a way of bringing attention to more serious issues.

But yesterday Fuimaono-Sapolu turned on the media, saying: "Honestly, I'm absolutely bored shit of reading my tweets in the paper! Surely they can publish something else!"

The IRB defended all it had done for Samoa and the other Pacific Island nations to ensure their participation in the cup. To assist the unions, the IRB covered the insurance costs for all three participating island nations.

It also pumped $15 million into Oceania, which included underwriting the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, Sevens assembly costs, IRB Pacific Rugby Cup and the $1 million High Performance Centre in Apia, which opened last month.

The board also funded technical coaching and best practice community coach education.