Bulls' Gumede learns his fate after red card

NEWS: Bulls loose forward Mpilo Gumede was handed a suspension after being shown a red card in his side’s victory over Connacht in Galway.

The 24-year-old was given a three-week ban after the URC’s disciplinary process.

“After an act of foul play by Bulls player No.8 [Mpilo Gumede], referee Mike Adamson showed the player a red card in the 58th minute of the game under Law 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone,” the report read.

“Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking.

“In this instance reckless contact with the eyes.

“In the player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process [Declan Goodwin], he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card.

“Goodwin found that the incident met the red card threshold, with a low-end entry point warranting a six-week suspension.

“The player received three weeks [50 percent] mitigation due to his immediate apology, full engaged participation in the disciplinary process and good record which results in a three-game suspension.”

Gumede will miss the Bulls’ next three fixtures.

Fixtures Mpilo Gumede is unavailable for:
Saracens v Bulls, December 7, Champions Cup
Bulls v Northampton Saints, December 14, Champions Cup
Sharks v Bulls, December 21, URC

In a separate incident in the same match, Connacht’s Sean Jansen was also red-carded for playing the man in the air.

Following his disciplinary process, he received a three-week suspension.