RugbyRebels

FKAS wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:03 am "Freddie Steward is free to play immediately after an independent Disciplinary Committee chose not to uphold his red card from the Guinness Six Nations game between Ireland and England on Saturday in Dublin.

The judgement is available to read below:

England fullback Freddie Steward appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee via video link having received a red card in the Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and England on Saturday 18th March 2023 played at the Aviva Stadium.

The Red Card was issued as a result of the Referee concluding that the Player had acted contrary to Law 9.13 (A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders),

The independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Nigel Hampton KC – Chair (New Zealand), Frank Hadden (Scotland) and John Langford (Australia) heard the case, and considered all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the Player and his representative.

After hearing the submissions, the Disciplinary Committee formally amended the Law which was breached to Law 9.11 (Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler.)

The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card as described in Law 9.11. Having reviewed all the evidence, the Committee decided that: (i) head contact with an opposing player had occurred; (ii) there had been an act of foul play in breach of Law 9.11 in that the Player had been reckless in his actions and in his upright positioning as he approached and came into highly dangerous contact with the other player; and (iii) there were sufficient mitigating factors including the late change in the dynamics and positioning of the opposing player which should have resulted in the issue of a yellow card rather than a red card.

On that basis, the Committee did not uphold the red card and the player is free to play again immediately.

The Committee acknowledged that match officials are required to make decisions under pressure and in the heat of a live match environment."

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:30 am Now would probably be the perfect time for a rematch. I bet the whole Ireland squad are an absolute mess.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:40 am Foul play? Reckless? How did they manage to conclude that? I still don't think it was even a penalty, never mind a yellow card.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:05 pm You knew it was a farce when the phrase ‘in the current climate’ was uttered.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:40 am Foul play? Reckless? How did they manage to conclude that? I still don't think it was even a penalty, never mind a yellow card.

FKAS wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:19 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:40 am Foul play? Reckless? How did they manage to conclude that? I still don't think it was even a penalty, never mind a yellow card.

Bit of saving face for the officials.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:10 pm Peyper and the TMO boxed themselves into a corner when they ruled out any mitigation. It was plain there was mitigation aplenty but the officials refused to consider what was right in front of them.
There has to be a balance. We have to try and get better habits from players and reducing head contacts is non negotiable. But some degree of commonsense and empathy needs to come into the decision making process.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:01 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:10 pm Peyper and the TMO boxed themselves into a corner when they ruled out any mitigation. It was plain there was mitigation aplenty but the officials refused to consider what was right in front of them.
There has to be a balance. We have to try and get better habits from players and reducing head contacts is non negotiable. But some degree of commonsense and empathy needs to come into the decision making process.

All fair comment but if a player stoops to pick up a ball and does a flying head-butt into a defender's arm giving the defender no time to react, for officials to even consider blaming the defender is just farcical. IMO, the officials in this incident were clueless generally and the review panel were only marginally better. Yes, no further action is decreed but I think Steward should have been deemed innocent of all charges - not let off conditionally to save the officials' faces.

The whole thing leaves a bad taste.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:08 am Anyone know the outcome of Steward’s disciplinary hearing etc etc

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:38 pm

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:08 am Anyone know the outcome of Steward’s disciplinary hearing etc etc

When was the hearing?