Bok slapped with eye-gouging ban
DISCIPLINARY UPDATES: The Pro14 officials handed out a couple of bans on Wednesday, as they crack down on foul play.
Scarlets Springbok Uzair Cassiem has been banned for two weeks.
A Disciplinary Panel convened in Edinburgh to consider the Citing Complaint made against Cassiem, for an incident which occurred against the Southern Kings last Saturday, September 29.
The complaint was made with regard to an incident in the 62nd minute of the Pro14 Round Five fixture at Parc y Scarlets (Llanelli) when the player made contact with an opponent’s eye/eye area.
The player was cited for an infringement of Law 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone.
Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm (including stiff-arm tackles), shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking.
The Disciplinary Panel, comprising of Roddy Dunlop (Chairman), Frank Hadden and Iain Leslie (all Scotland), concluded that an act of foul play had occurred and merited a low-end entry point (four weeks) for contact with the eye/eye area.
The Panel deemed that the action was reckless, but not deliberate, and applied full mitigation of 50 percent.
As a result, the player has been banned for a period of two weeks and is free to play from midnight on Sunday, October 14.
The player was reminded of his right to appeal.
* Meanwhile Dominic Robertson-McCoy of Connacht faced a disciplinary hearing and has been banned for six weeks.
The disciplinary panel considered the red-card decision against the player – resulting from the Round Five fixture against Leinster on September 29.
The player was shown a red card by referee John Lacey under Law 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone.
Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm (including stiff-arm tackles), shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking.
The Disciplinary Panel, comprising Kathrine Mackie (Chairman), Beth Dickens and Robert Milligan (all Scotland), considered all the circumstances.
The player admitted committing an act of foul play by stamping on the neck and conceded that the referee’s decision to issue a red card was not wrong.
The panel determined that the act of foul play warranted a top-end entry point of 12 weeks.
The Panel also considered the player’s previous clean disciplinary record, his early and full acknowledgement of his actions and the remorse he expressed and concluded that full mitigation of 50 per cent should be applied.
As a result, the player has been banned for a period of six weeks. He is free to play from midnight Sunday, November 18.
The player was reminded of his right to appeal.
