English Woman's Journal - Referee 'killed me' again storms Georgian world number one fencer

The Grand Palais venue for the fencing has hosted many exhibitions since its inception in 1900 and Bazadze provided them with one of their most memorable.

Bazadze, who turns 31 on Monday, refused to leave the piste, and bellowed at Spanish match referee Vanesa Chichon after she referred to the video and adjudged that Egyptian Mohamed Amer had got the touch giving him a 15-14 win.

The two-time European champion went on shouting at her as she walked away, but she ignored him and exited the arena in central Paris.

"For the second time as in Tokyo the referees kill me," a distraught Bazadze told the media after finally also exiting the arena.

"In Tokyo they destroyed my life, almost finished my career.

"But I came back and became first in the world and prepare for the Olympic Games but she kills me."

He had put on quite a show.

It led to the spectators booing him, though, they then started cheering when the public address announcer, perhaps diplomatically stepping in to calm an already febrile atmosphere, informed then France had reached the men's sevens rugby final.

Bazadze was oblivious to this as he continued to rant and jabbed his fingers into his chest, spreading his arms pleading with other officials but to little avail.

His French training partner Bolade Apithy, who had stayed on to watch him after losing in his match, came to calm him down but it had little impact.

- 'Where is fairness?' -

Bazadze was eventually persuaded to leave, though, he was still muttering away, and claimed Chichon had resorted to referring to the video which he said was never usually the case at an Olympics.

"My career is finished, it is done," he said.

"How can I come back when referees are killing me all the time.

"She went and checked the video. I have trained for this for 21 years and she treats me like I am no one.

"When I asked her to explain she turns round and goes. The Olympic Games.. fairness where is fairness?"

Bazadze lost to three-time Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi in Tokyo in the semi-finals, claiming that was also a poor decision.

"I was one of the favourites in Tokyo but went out in the semis they kill me like now," he said.

"Everyone check the video, I am not a kid I understand this sport. Look at the video you can say if I am wrong and judge me."

The physically imposing Bazadze may be thinking of hanging up his sabre but at the same time he hinted he might take the matter further.

"I came to the Olympics in bad shape in my life," he said.

"I don't know but I will not leave it like this I swear on my sons I will do something."

R.Sutherland--EWJ