Elstadt & Venter slapped with one-week bans
The Stormers beat the Cheetahs 40-34 in their Super Rugby, Round 15 encounter in Bloemfontein at the weekend.
Both players have been charged with a transgression of Law 10.4(a) – Striking another Player with a hand, arm or fist.
The incident – when Venter struck Elstadt, who was holding him back, with the elbow and the latter retaliated by striking his opponent with the fist – occurred in the 80th minute.
Both players were issued with red cards, after the referee and the television match official had several looks at the incident.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee has accepted a guilty plea from Venter.
Venter has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including Friday, July 14.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee of Nigel Hampton (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Stephen Hardy assessed the case.
In his finding, foul play review committee Chairman Nigel Hampton ruled as follows: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Marius Botha, the foul play review committee upheld the ordering off under Law 10.4(a).
"With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low end entry point of two weeks, particularly having regard to the relatively minor nature of the impact. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's admission of guilt at the first available opportunity and excellent judicial record, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to one week.
"The player is therefore suspended for one week, up to and including Friday, July 14."
The SANZAAR foul play review committee also accepted a guilty plea from Elstadt.
Elstadt has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including Saturday, July 8.
In his finding Hampton ruled as follows: "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, Marius Botha, the foul play review committee upheld the ordering off under Law 10.4(a).
"With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low end entry point of two weeks, particularly having regard to the relatively minor nature of the impact. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's admission of guilt at the first available opportunity, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to one week."
"The player is therefore suspended for 1 week, up to and including Saturday 8 July 2017."
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.
