Tongan star arrested for assault on Englishman
Article Published: Tuesday 2 October 2007
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A Tongan rugby star took his revenge on an England fan who taunted him over his team’s World Cup defeat to England last week.
English newspaper the sun reports that Joseph Vaka, 26, delivered a forearm smash to the fan’s head in a bust-up at Heathrow airport. The 18st winger was arrested and flung in police cells after the clash at Terminal 3.
He was with team-mates on their way home from France after England sent them crashing out of the cup last week.
The Tongans had a good world cup and had they beaten England they would have progressed to the qtr final. Even a draw would have seen them go through.
Vaka reportedly lost it when the team were goaded by a 36-year-old airport worker and other rugby fans chanting: “Come on England.”
An onlooker said: “Vaka just saw red and charged over. I think he dared the airport worker to open his mouth one more time.
“The guy just went on chanting. He was either very brave or very stupid, probably very stupid. Vaka just let him have it.”
The Tongan, who plays club rugby in Japan, was freed after five hours in the cells and given a caution for assault.
His team-mates had already left by the time he was released so he was put on the next flight home.