U.S. women's rugby star, Olympian Alev Kelter stomps opponent's head in Pacific Four Series match

The Associated Press

· Posted: May 18, 2025 11:41 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

United States Olympic rugby prima Alev Kelter volition look a judicial proceeding and perchance lengthy suspension aft being sent disconnected successful a women's rugby trial against Australia connected Saturday for stamping connected the caput of an opponent.

Kelter received a consecutive reddish paper successful the 79th infinitesimal of the Pacific Four Series trial against Australia aft referee Aimee Barrett-Theron reviewed footage that showed Kelter stamping forcefully connected the caput of Australian centre Georgie Friedrichs.

In comments captured by tv microphones, Barrett-Theron said "12 bluish [Kelter] is going to person a imperishable reddish paper due to the fact that this is thuggery, it is deliberate and it is precise unsafe foul play.

"She's intelligibly stamped connected the caput of the Australian player. That's reckless, that's unsafe and she's going off."

Friedrichs was not earnestly injured successful the incident. The United States squad manager Sione Fukofuka aboriginal apologized to the Australian players.

Foul play successful rugby that involves interaction with the caput is treated with utmost seriousness. Rugby, similar galore interaction sports, has changed its rules successful an effort to bounds the information of concussion and different caput injuries.

Kelter is simply a three-time U.S. Olympic typical successful rugby sevens and won a bronze medal successful Paris past year. She antecedently played crystal hockey and shot for the University of Wisconsin.

In rugby, judicial hearings implicit foul play usually instrumentality spot withing 48 hours of a match.

Australia won Saturday's lucifer 27-19.