French Hockey Player Suspended from Olympics After Slamming Opponent During Fight, Then Egging on Jeering Fans

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Pierre Crinon
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NEED TO KNOW​

• French hockey player Pierre Crinon has been suspended from the 2026 Winter Olympics
• After a fight with Canada's Tom Wilson, Crinon taunted fans on his walk back to the locker room
• Wilson's teammates defended his involvement in the fight, and he was not suspended

French hockey player Pierre Crinon has been suspended from the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after taunting fans in the stands following his involvement in a fight with another player.

During France’s 10-2 loss against Canada on Sunday, Feb. 15, Crinon and Canada’s Tom Wilson engaged in a rare Olympic hockey fight after which they were both ejected from the game.

Fights, while fairly common in the NHL, are not condoned at the Olympics, but it was what Crinon did afterwards that put him in hot water.

"Pierre Crinon's provocative behavior when he came out of the ice, even though he had just been excluded from the match for a fight, is a clear violation of the Olympic spirit and also undermines the values of our sport,” the French Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement. “A decision was therefore made, in full alignment with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, not to authorize his participation for the next meeting of the Olympic tournament."

The fight happened just after Crinon, 30, laid a high hit on Team Canada's Nathan MacKinnon. Wilson, 31, took issue with the interaction and went after Crinon, who then slammed him into the ice, according to The Athletic.

Referees separated the two players, and both were tossed from the game.

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Tom Wilson, Pierre Crinon
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In a video shared on social media, as Crinon returned to the locker room, he motioned to the booing Canadian fans with his hands to his ears and egged them on.

Crinon will miss Tuesday, Feb. 17’s qualification-round game against Germany.

Beyond his ejection, Wilson — who plays for the NHL’s Washington Capitals — was not penalized for his participation in the fight, and his teammates weren’t too surprised by his actions.

“That’s just what Willy does,” Canada’s Brandon Hagel said, per The Athletic. “He sticks up for teammates. Obviously, we didn’t like what happened to Mac behind the net. That’s what you call a team. That’s why everyone praises and loves Tom Wilson, because that’s the stuff he does.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

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