Reds prop gets three-game ban

NEWS: Reds prop Feao Fotuaika has been banned for three weeks.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Fotuaika for contravening Law 9.20a: Dangerous play in a ruck or maul, after he was red-carded during his team’s 23-21 win over the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby AU match at the weekend.

Fotuaika has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including March 27.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute of the match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday, February 26.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Adam Casselden (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Mike Mika assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden ruled the following:

“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Mark Martin QC, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.20a.

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s clean judicial record and pleading guilty at his first available opportunity the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to three weeks.

“The player is therefore suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 27 March 2021. This includes the following fixtures:

Round 4 Brumbies v Reds 13 March 2021
Round 5 Reds v Western Force 20 March 2021
Round 6 Waratahs v Reds 27 March 2021 ”

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.