Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/779/19
Jono Smith #11, Barrow
Competition:
Championship
Match:
Barrow v Sheffield
Match Date:
2019-05-19
Incident:
Dangerous Contact in the 22nd minute (James)
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Rule – 15.1(i)
Detail – Defender uses any part of his body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.
Grade – D
Sanctions:
3-5
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Not Guilty
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 23rd May you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match.
The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 22nd minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion during making a tackle you applied unnecessary pressure to the limb of an opponent (James). The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent injury.
In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence (Defender uses any part of his body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.) The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 3 – 5 match suspension.
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Player made personal appearance and had his coach Paul Crarey on the phone. Player pleads Not Guilty.
There was no intent to hurt the opponent or cause any injury. It was a passive tackle involving a teammate who made contact with himself whilst he was tackling opponent.
The opponent was moving forward at speed and the player was unable to pull out of tackle and accidentally made contact with the opponents leg/ankle.
Player could not see how he could have pulled out of the tackle when he was committed and opponent was moving forward. He has shown considerable remorse for the injury caused to the opponent but it was accidental and an unfortunate injury.
Decision:
Not Guilty
Reasons for Decision:
The Tribunal have carefully listened to the submissions made by the player and his coach and have viewed the all angles of the footage on several occasions.
The player is charged with dangerous contact on opponents leg/ankle by dropping the bodyweight of his hip onto an opponent during a tackle. The opponent passes the tackling player who makes contact with the waist of the running opponent. A teammate of this player joins in the tackle and makes contact with the tackling player. As a result the momentum of the tackling player is halted and he has nowhere else to go but downwards. As he goes downwards he makes accidental contact with the opponent which unfortunately results in a serious injury.
This Tribunal feel the contact was accidental and find the player not guilty of the charge.