FIDDLESTICKS
BBC’s Gladiators in cheating row after referee makes ‘wrong’ decision to save Giant
Saturday's semi-final also featured a horror injury that ruled a contender out
GLADIATORS has been caught up in a 'cheating' row after viewers claimed referee Mark Clattenburg helped save Giant during a brutal game.
In Saturday night's semi-final show, admin officer Wesley Male, from Leeds, was tasked with taking on man mountain Giant in Duel.
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The two men each stood atop a podium and battled it out with pugil sticks.
Wesley fought well and overcame the size disadvantage to almost knock Giant off his podium.
Instead, the Gladiator held on and dispatched the contender with just one second to go.
However, former Premier League ref Clattenburg was called in to analyse the action after it appeared Giant steadied himself by placing his bud on Wesley's podium.
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The ref ruled the result should stand after determining Giant lost his grip on his stick before rising back to his feet.
Rules state that "neither party can take their hands off the pugil stick, except when changing grip position or to regain grip on the stick."
It also says that "neither combatant may step over to the opponents platform"; Giant's feet remained firmly on his own podium.
Nevertheless, it left viewers outraged and some were convinced the Gladiator should have been disqualified.
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One viewers wrote on X: "Thankfully Wes won! It was an obvious cheat by Giant in Dual! He should’ve been disqualified for touching Wes’ podium!"
Gladiators in chaos as contestant is rushed to medics and forced to QUIT semi-final after painful injury on BBC One show
Another said: "That should have been a Contender Win!!! Giant put his hand on Wesley’s podium!!!!"
A third wrote: "Well I would say that the referee made the wrong decision there on #Gladiators, Giant touched Wesley's podium and contenders have been DQ’d for that in the past."
A fourth shared: "Giant had the perfect opportunity to just push him off when Wesley was teetering but just stood there and let him recover. A little bit of me if why I think the ref call was what it was. Hides it a bit ;)."
The event had little outcome on the end result as Wesley went on to make the final after an impressive Eliminator win.
It wasn't the only dramatic moment of the episode.
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Wesley's adversary, software engineer Chung Leung, was rushed to medics after sustaining a painful injury to his leg.
Chung put on a solid performance as he took on the Gladiators for the Duel, The Wall and The Edge challenge.
But things took a turn for the worse during the Powerball game.
Chung tried to score but was stopped by rugby player Apollo's tackle.
The contender fell to the floor in agony and the game was forced to be stopped.
As Chung rolled around in pain, the arena watched on as he held his leg and grimaced.
He was then rushed off to get paramedic support.
Unfortunately, Chung was forced to withdraw from the competition and was replaced by contender Matt, who had been knocked out in the quarter-finals.
Host Bradley Walsh updated fans and said: "Earlier we had to suspend the men's Powerball game when Chung sadly was injured.
"After consultations with the medical team, the decision has been made that he can no longer continue in the competition.
"He's doing okay and is receiving the best medical care.
"And we'll get you an update on his condition before the end of the show."
Co-host Barney revealed: "That means we need to bring in a substitute contender and he's someone you may have seen before.
"Please give a warm welcome to Matt."
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Civil engineer Matt, from Cardiff, filled in for Chung as he got an unexpected change to return to the show.
Chung then made a comeback at the end of the show as he supported himself on some crutches.
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