Australia’s women’s water polo team has lodged an official complaint alleging an Italian opponent bit their star player Kate Gynther.
The incident apparently happened in Australia’s 12-8 victory over the Olympic champions at the world championships in Melbourne on Tuesday and is not an isolated incident, said coach Greg McFadden.
”They just fall over the top and they bite. There are three girls in the team who do it all the time,” he claimed, adding that Gynther was bitten on the forearm and the skin was broken.
”The referees can’t see it. It’s pretty hard to see because a lot happens underwater, so we’ve got to write an official complaint about it and we will.”
Gynther said she was shocked at the tactics.
”It was a bit of a surprise, it is something you don’t expect to happen but I definitely felt it,” she said, adding that she considered lashing out but refrained.
”There was a bit of that feeling but in the game I went to the bench and that calmed me down a bit. There is a lot that goes on, people are pulling and kicking and stuff like that goes on but you can’t defend yourself against [biting].
”It is not good for the sport. We don’t get much publicity and then it is only when someone gets bitten.”
The Italian team could not be reached for comment. – Sapa-AFP