Member of staff suspended as Benetton investigate Cherif Traore racial abuse

The United Rugby Championship demanded on Thursday that Benetton launch a full inquiry in the expectation of sanctioning those responsible.

Italy’s Cherif Traore arrives for the Guinness Six Nations match at Twickenham Stadium, London.

Benetton have suspended a member of staff as a “precautionary measure” while investigations take place into the racial abuse of Cherif Traore.

Italy prop Traore revealed on social media that he was given a rotten banana in the club’s Secret Santa and that his team-mates reacted to the present by laughing, making him feel “hurt”.