RFU set record straight over race row

The RFU changed part of its verdict on the Gloucester-Newcastle race row yesterday following a protest from the West Country club's owner, Tom Walkinshaw.

In acquitting Gloucest e r 's French hooker Olivier Azam of racially abusing Newcastle's Tongan flanker Epi Taione at Kingsholm last December, the RFU's independent chairman, Michael Belloff, QC, stated that a Gloucester supporter had been ejected from the ground for 'uttering two phrases of racial abuse'.

Walkinshaw, whose club was praised for its 'admirable anti-racist policy', said: 'That's completely false. Nobody was ejected from the ground on the day in question.'

The RFU issued a correction last night, that 'contrary to its earlier statement, a supporter was not ejected from the ground during the fixture. Although there was an incident involving a supporter, the person concerned was spoken to by stewards, details taken and recorded by them in a notebook.'

The inquiry was always going to boil down to one man's word against another. 'We concluded that Mr Taione is the only player or official who claims to have heard the racially abusive words, which Mr Azam has always denied uttering,' said Belloff.

Despite rebuking Newcastle manager Rob Andrew, owner Dave Thompson and Walkin-shaw for their after-match behaviour, no further action will be taken.