Case Number:

ON/020/19

George Flanagan #9, Bradford

Competition:

Warm Up Matches

Match:

Bradford v Dewsbury

Match Date:

2019-01-12

Incident:

Dangerous Contact in the 60th minute

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1(i)
Detail – Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of his body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.
Grade – C

Sanctions:

2 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenging the grading

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

The MRP reviewed this incident following Mr Flanagan’s temporary dismissal in the 60th minute of the match and were concerned with the technique used to complete the tackle on Mr Flanagan’s opponent, Robbie Ward.
The opponent receives the ball following the play the ball is met by three Bradford defenders. Mr Flanagan’s initial contact is around the waist and the other Bradford defender is around the legs attempting to bring Mr Ward to ground.
The opponent turns in the tackle and tries to go to ground himself by adopting a seated position.
The third Bradford tacklers’ contact is minimal and can be seen to peel off the tackle.
The footage clearly shows Mr Flanagan’s left arm in a grip hooking under the arm of the opponent. Mr Flanagan’s arm is not trapped in the contact and could be removed however he chooses to maintain this grip. Mr Flanagan can be seen to lift his opponent back up off the ground, to avoid a surrender tackle. At this stage the back of Mr Ward’s head is in contact with Mr Flanagan’s chest. Mr Flanagan can then be seen to take both feet off the ground. In doing so Mr Flanagan has no control over his bodyweight in the tackle, and whilst maintaining his grip places all his bodyweight on the neck area of Mr Ward.
The above results in the injury which is treated on the field and the opponent plays on for the rest of the match.
The MRP are not submitting that Mr Flanagan has intentionally tried to injure Mr Ward, however through employing the technique used he was reckless and dangerous and should have been aware of the possible outcomes of using such technique.
The contact is at speed and through employing the technique used and taking both feet off the floor Mr Flanagan loses control of his bodyweight in the tackle and cannot withdraw to ensure dangerous contact is avoided, once both feet are off the ground. As such the MRP felt a Grade C charge was appropriate due to the dangerous and reckless nature of the contact made.
The offence was graded at C as the MRP believed the action was reckless and dangerous and carried a serious risk of injury to the opponent.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Player in attendance with Assistant Coach Gareth Carvell.

Both the player and coach accept there was some pressure put on the opponent during the course of contact and accept there was some dangerous contact on the opponents’ neck. The Player accepts at one point in contact his feet were off the ground but the player then puts his feet back on the ground and allows the opponents head to release from the pressure. When his feet are back on the ground the tackling players right knee makes contact with opponents’ head probably causing some injury.

Player indicated he had spoken to opponent after the game who indicated he could not recall any pressure upon his neck. Player backed into tackle and tackling player at 90-degree angle when he lost his feet and maintained that 90-degree angle when he placed his feet back on the ground and allowed his head through his legs.

The player introduced a comparable clip of a similar tackle in the same game involving an opponent (Sykes). The player and his representative indicate this was a similar tackle, and although the tackling player did not take his feet off the ground the force used on the neck at the point of contact was more severe and the tackling player did not allow the opponent room to release his neck.

The player argues that his tackle was similar and involved other players and he released the opponents head and the offence was graded at Grade C, but the similar tackle in the same game was more serious with more pressure imposed and only graded at Grade A.

There was no malice of intent in either tackle.

Decision:

Challenge against the grading at Grade C successful and downgraded to Grade B offence

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal take into account that Mr Carvell said the player would probably have accepted a Grade C but feel this was said to reinforce the inconstancy in relation to the comparable Sykes tackle they had taken rather than a careful analysis of the Mr Flanagan’s tackle.

Having carefully listened to the players explanation we are satisfied that the pressure that was applied was momentarily and that full pressure was not applied. They also accept there was an immediate release to allow the opponent safe progression to the floor.

The Tribunal therefore take the view that the grading should be reduced to Grade B.

Having watched the comparison clip the Tribunal believe that the player was perhaps fortunate to have received a Grad A charge and they also took into account the involvement of other players and the movements of the opponent in the tackle.

The Tribunal are satisfied that the challenge to the grading is successful and feel it should lowered to Grade B. They therefore impose a 1-match suspension and as the challenge was successful do not impose a financial sanction.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The MRP felt this was a reckless and dangerous tackle imposing unnecessary pressure and carried a serious risk of injury to the opponent and as such thought Grade C was appropriate.

Aggravating Factors:

2016 – Repeated Punching-Grade C (2 matches)
2013 – Punching one on one Grade B (1 match)
2012 – Danger Contact-Grade B (1 match)

Suspension:

1 match