Cape Town - Chiefs center, Jonathan Faauli, has been hit with a six week ban after receiving a red card in the Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee accepted a guilty plea from Jonathan Faauli of the Chiefs for contravening Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously and suspended him from all forms of the game for 6 weeks, up to and including Friday, August 31.
The incident occurred in the 62nd minute of the match..
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton QC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.
In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton QC ruled the following:
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles, additional evidence, a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13"
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid range entry point of 6 weeks. The Foul Play Review Committee added 2 weeks to the entry point as aggravation for the fact the player has two previous offences of a similar nature on his judicial record and as a personal deterrent to combat a pattern of such offending by the player. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's expressed remorse and his plea of guilty at the earliest possible opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 6 weeks."
"The player is therefore suspended for 6 weeks, up to and including the August 31, 2018.”
All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.