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Cape Town - The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Semisi Masirewa of the Sunwolves for contravening Law 9.18: A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby match at the eeekend.
Masirewa has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks, up to and including July 30, 2018.
The incident occurred in the 39th minute of the match between the Waratahs and Sunwolves played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
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 and a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Maryjane Crabtree, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the red card under Law 9.18."
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 6 weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's good judicial record, his immediate and repeated apology to the other player, his remorse and his guilty plea at the earliest possible convenience, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks."
"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including July 30, 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.
