France prop forward Mohamed Haouas has been jailed for a year after hitting his wife in public.
Haouas had been held in custody since the domestic abuse before his case was fast-tracked through the courts.
He has been given an “adjustable sentence” – which means he might not have to go to jail.
The player can appeal.
The conviction has ended his move this summer from Montpellier to Clermont
Clermont said in a statement:
“Haouas has put himself in total opposition with our identity and will not be able to wear our colours on the pitch”.
The court heard that Haouas chased, tripped, and slapped his wife Imane at a shopping centre in Hérault.
Haouas is reported as saying that he grew angry after his wife lied to him about smoking a cigarette.
He said: “I imagined things, I got jealous. I got mad, and I lost control.”
A witness alerted the police and Haouas was arrested at around 6pm.
The public prosecutor argued for a harsher, 18-month sentence.
Even with a less severe sanction, Haouas would now appear certain to be overlooked for the World Cup in France later this year.
