Mohamed Haouas apologizes to his teammates after his new skid: what sanctions for the MHR pillar ?

Montpellier Hérault Rugby pillar Mohamed Haouas was arrested for drunk driving. A new incident for him that embarrasses the club.

When Mohamed Haouas' return to MHR was made official this summer, president Mohed Altrad was clear: “At the first slip, he starts again. I hope he understands with everything that has happened to him.” After five months of good behavior, of a more than acceptable rugby level, the international pillar (16 selections) has slipped again.

This Sunday morning, the former teenager of Petit Bard, 30 years old today, was taken into custody at the Montpellier police station for drunk driving (1.8g per liter of blood). Found unconscious in his car in a street in the La Mosson district, engine running, “Momo” Haouas was finally rescued by passers-by who broke a window.

Released the next morning after spending 24 hours at the police station, Haouas is summoned to court on February 4. As a reminder, in May 2023, he was sentenced to one year in prison for hitting his partner. The following month, to eighteen months in prison, nine of which were firm, for aggravated “violence” during a fight in a bakery on January 1, 2014.

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What sanctions ?

This Monday, a few moments after being released, the Montpellier player went to the club. He apologized to his teammates. Contacted, the staff refuses to comment for the moment.

What will management decide?? A sanction seems inevitable. Will it be on the scale of Mohed Altrad's statement last summer?? A “simple” suspension?? A financial sanction?? Both?? The subject was still under discussion this Monday.

The image of the MHR takes a hit. One more. Once again, he is mentioned in the “miscellaneous” section. Enough to fuel the controversy around a club marked by affairs in recent years, at a time when a new momentum was emerging with positive results.

Read also: Top 14: “I believe in redemption”, Bernard Laporte returns to the recruitment of Stuart Hogg, Wilfrid Hounkpatin and Mohamed Haouas to the MHR

This new Haouas episode also embarrasses the upper echelons of the club. “Mohamed Haouas is a social case. We have a project for him. We want to support him, help him get on the right track. Even more than in the past. And from a sporting perspective, we need it”, justified Altrad upon his arrival.

The sporting director, Bernard Laporte, had also defended the recruitment of the pillar and Stuart Hogg, accused of domestic harassment for his part. “I understand the criticism. But I say: is it final when you've made a mistake? ? Can we punish you for life? ? I believe in redemption. Fortunately it exists. Otherwise, it would be terrible. Obviously, we don't agree with what they did, like everyone else. Honestly, I think it's good that the president agrees to give them another chance. I think it's human. But there's no more room for error. We know that.”