Cape Town - Sharks hooker Pieter Dixon has escaped further punishment after he was cited for kicking Blue Bulls flank Arno Botha in the face in last Friday night's Currie Cup game in Durban.
Dixon appeared before Disciplinary Officer, Jannie Lubbe, on Monday, who found that the sending off was sufficient sanction and deemed no further sanction to be necessary. Dixon was sent off by referee Mark Lawrence following a review and recommendation by the Television Match Official (TMO), Johan Meuwesen.
Lubbe found that, on the balance of probability, the awarding of the red card was incorrect. The player conceded that his boot came into contact with the head of Botha, but stated that it was accidental. Lubbe could not exclude that possibility on the evidence, and found that it was more probable that the contact was accidental rather than deliberate.
He also ruled that the red card should be removed from the player’s record and not be considered should the player appear before a disciplinary committee again.
The Sharks next take on the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Dixon appeared before Disciplinary Officer, Jannie Lubbe, on Monday, who found that the sending off was sufficient sanction and deemed no further sanction to be necessary. Dixon was sent off by referee Mark Lawrence following a review and recommendation by the Television Match Official (TMO), Johan Meuwesen.
Lubbe found that, on the balance of probability, the awarding of the red card was incorrect. The player conceded that his boot came into contact with the head of Botha, but stated that it was accidental. Lubbe could not exclude that possibility on the evidence, and found that it was more probable that the contact was accidental rather than deliberate.
He also ruled that the red card should be removed from the player’s record and not be considered should the player appear before a disciplinary committee again.
The Sharks next take on the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.