UCT lock Passaportis cleared to play
FNB UCT lock Michael Passaportis has escaped further censure after being shown a red card during his team’s 36-17 Varsity Cup win over FNB NMMU this past Monday night.
Passaportis was red-carded in the 41st minute of Monday’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International clash in Port Elizabeth for allegedly punching a NMMU player.
However, the big Ikey Tigers lock was cleared at a hearing at SA Rugby headquarters in Cape Town on Thursday morning and no further sanction was imposed on him.
Many pundits at the time felt Passaportis’ sending off to be harsh, especially as referee Dilbert November had not seen the incident and the touch judge made no recommendation either on the night.
“A red card has an enormous impact on the game as a spectacle and should not be handed out lightly,” said Ikeys head coach John Dobson to varsitycup.co.za.
“(But) we’re very happy that Michael has been cleared to play,” he added.
“He is not a dirty player and although we were forced to the entire second half a man down, which could have seen us lose to NMMU, we’re happy that it has caused us no further damage.”
UCT will entertain FNB Shimlas at Groote Schuur next Monday – kick-off 6.45pm. Dobson is expected to announce his starting XV on Friday.
