Citings: Dates for hearings
There have been several citings after Round 3 of the Heineken Cup and European Rugby has announced the dates and venues for each of the hearings plus the judicial officer who will chair the hearing. Guillaume Ribes was sent off while playing for Brive and is not cited but will automatically attend a hearing.
For each match there is a citing commissioner who is appointed by the European Rugby Cup for televised matches in the Heineken or Amlin Challenge and who decides whether or not an incident is serious enough to warrant a hearing. Clubs do not have the power to cite but are allowed to refer matters to the citing commissioner for his scrutiny. Citings must be done within 50 hours of the start of the match.
The hearings are heard by an independent Judicial Officer as soon as is practicable. The judicial officer is appointed by Professor Lorne Crerar, the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel. Until the hearing a cited player is eligible to play in ERC tournaments and after the decision both the ERC and the player has the right of appeal within in 72 hours of receiving the full written decision from Crerar.
The hearings in these cases will take place in Dublin on Thursday, 17 December 2009.
The players involved are:
David Attoub of Stade Français – replacement prop (No.17)
Citing Commissioner: Tony Lanaway (England)
Charge: Contact with the eye /eye area of Ulster player Stephen Ferris (No.6) in contravention of Law 10.4 (l).
Judicial Officer: HH Judge Jeff Blackett (England)
Julien Dupuy of Stade Français – scrum half (No.9)
Citing Commissioner: Tony Lanaway (England)
Charge: contact with the eye/eye area of Ulster player Stephen Ferris (No.6) in contravention of Law 10.4 (l).
Judicial Officer: HH Judge Jeff Blackett (England).
Arnaud Méla of Brive – lock (No.5)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (Italy)
Charge: Punch/strike on replacement London Irish hooker Danie Coetzee (No.16) in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
Judicial Officer: Robert Williams (Wales)
Guillaume Ribes of Brive replacement hooker (No.16)
The player received a red card was issued in the second half by referee George Clancy (Ireland) for kicking an opponent, in contravention of Law 10.4 (c).
Judicial Officer: Robert Williams (Wales)
Tommy Bowe of Ospreys – wing (No.14)
Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (Scotland)
Charge: A dangerous tackle (Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body first into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground) on Viadana wing Kaine Robertson (No.14) in contravention of Law 10.4 (i).
Judicial Officer: to be appointed as soon as practicable.
The International Rugby Board’s recommended sanctions for these offences, suspension dependent on seriousness:
Striking another Player with a hand, arm or fist
Lower end: 2 weeks
Mid range: 5 weeks
Top end: 8+ weeks
Maximum Sanction: 52 weeks
Law 10.4 (a)
Kicking an opponent
Lower end: 4 weeks
Mid range: 8 weeks
Top end: 12+ weeks
Maximum Sanction: 52 weeks
Law 10.4 (c)
Dangerous tackling: Lifting a Player from the ground and either dropping or driving that Player’s head and/or upper body first into the ground whilst
the Player’s feet are off the ground
Lower end: 3 weeks
Mid range: 6 weeks
Top end: 10+ weeks
Maximum Sanction: 52 weeks
Law 10.4 (i)
Contact with Eyes or the Eye Area
Lower end: 12 weeks
Mid range: 18 weeks
Top end: 24+ weeks
Maximum Sanction: 156 weeks
Law 10.4 (l)
Laws applicable:
Law 10.4 (a) Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including
the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Law 10.4 (c) Kicking. A player must not kick an opponent.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Law 10.4 (i) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body
come into contact with the ground first is dangerous play.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Law 10.4 (l) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
