'Oversight' costs Haskell another week
The Highlanders’ England loose forward James Haskell has had his suspension for punching extended from three weeks to four weeks.
Haskell was originally found guilty of striking Cheetahs player Justin Downey, following the match between the Cheetahs and the Highlanders at Free State Stadium Bloemfontein on April 28. He was handed a six-week ban, which was reduced to three weeks because of Haskell’s supposed ‘clean’ record.
However, in an unprecedented step SANZAR judicial officer Mike Heron recalled his decision of May 1 and extended the three-week ban to Haskell to four weeks.
This follows after this website contacted SANZAR boss Greg Peters to question the claim by Haskell that he had an “impressive record of no previous citings in over 10 years of professional rugby”.
It was pointed out to the SANZAR boss that Haskell, who will tour South Africa with England in June, was banned in 2008 for ‘striking an opponent with the head’ during Wasps’ 11-10 loss to Worcester. And even before the head-butt ban Haskell had two yellow cards on his record.
Peters referred the matter back to Heron, who called on Haskell and his counsel to attended a new hearing and provided him a copy of the earlier decision.
Haskell explained that he had completely overlooked the 2008 ban, because “it was such a different and unusual matter” and apologised.
However, it is difficult to see how Haskell had “forgotten” this incident – given the extraordinary amount of media coverage the head-butt ban received.
At the time RFU disciplinary chief Jeff Blackett criticised referee Martin Fox and citing officer Matt Bayliss for their handling of the incident. It caused a major furore in England.
The same applies to his yellow cards, which were highlighted in the Blackett finding at the time.
SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Mike Heron has recalled his decision of 1 May 2012 of a 3 Week Suspension to Highlanders player James Haskell and replaced it with a 4 week suspension.
At the second hearing, which Haskell and his counsel attended, Haskell agreed that Heron would recall and reissue the decision – reducing the mitigation previously given from three weeks to two weeks.
That would resulted in an ultimate sanction of four weeks.
“Because Haskell had a previous disciplinary matter, I find I am not able to give him the maximum discount as previously allowed,” Heron said in a statement.
“The comments regarding the impressive record are modified to that extent only.
“The discount for his guilty plea, remorse and the record as now corrected, is a period of two weeks.”
The new penalty is a suspension of four weeks, which is the period to and including Saturday 26 May 2012 (four scheduled Super Rugby matches).
“It is vital for the proper functioning of this disciplinary system, that players and their support personnel provide accurate and complete information to the judicial officer,” Heron said.
“In this case I accept it was an oversight. I note for completeness that a deliberate failure to provide accurate and complete information on material matters such as previous disciplinary record, could amount to Misconduct under the SANZAR Code of Conduct.”
