Mohamed Haouas, a rugby player, was given a one-year prison sentence for domestic violence.
Following reports that he had beaten his wife in the vicinity of a well-known shopping center in Hérault, France, the 29-year-old French celebrity was detained last Friday.
According to reports, the two got into a fight after he saw his wife Imane smoking a cigarette even though she’d told Haouas she’d stopped.
The Montpellier player made the following allegation in an effort to justify his behavior: “She has the right to smoke, but the issue is that she lied to me.”
If she can lie about the cigarette, I told myself, she can lie about everything. I made up stories and developed jealousy. I became enraged and lost control,’ he admitted.
Haouas was kept in detention following the event until a hurried court proceeding on May 30 where he was found guilty.
According to reports in France, Haouas has been given an adjustable sentence, so he can still avoid spending time in jail.
The French Rugby Federation responded to the incident by stating that Haouas’ behavior was “inadmissible and incompatible with representing our country at an international level.”
In addition, the 29-year-old’s previously planned summer transfer from Montpellier to Clermont has been canceled.
Haouas’ actions were denounced by Clermont in a statement, which also claimed that he had “put himself in total opposition with our identity” and would no longer be permitted to wear the team’s colors on the field.
Similar contentious incidents involving the France international have occurred on the field, such as his four-week suspension for headbutting Scotland’s Ben White during the Six Nations.
At Murrayfield in 2020, he was also dismissed for punching forward Jamie Ritchie.
Haouas was also given an 18-month suspended sentence for his part in a string of crimes in 2014 last year.
The 29-year-old has played 16 times for France, but his behavior off the field may have prevented him from making further appearances.
