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The citing against Saracens player Kevin Yates, lodged after the Round 4 Heineken Cup Pool 4 match between Saracens and Ulster Rugby at Vicarage Road on Saturday, 17 December, was heard by an independent Disciplinary Committee in Glasgow today (Friday, 23 December).
The citing was lodged by ERC appointed Citing Commissioner for the match, Terry Vaux (Wales).
An independent Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Professor Lorne D. Crerar (SRU) and completed by Douglas Hunter and Iain Goodall (both SRU), upheld the citing for contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
The independent Disciplinary Commttee found that although foul play did occur and the player did strike an opponent with a fist, that the yellow card awarded in the match was sufficient punishment.
Both parties were advised of the right to appeal.
(Law 10.4 (a) - Punching or striking: A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).)
JUSTIN HARRISON - ULSTER RUGBY
The citing against Ulster Rugby player Justin Harrison, lodged after the Round 4 Heineken Cup Pool 4 match between Saracens and Ulster Rugby at Vicarage Road on Saturday, 17 December, was dismissed by an independent Disciplinary Committee in Glasgow today (Friday, 23 December).
The citing was lodged by the ERC appointed Citing Commissioner for the match, Terry Vaux (Wales).
An independent Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Professor Lorne D. Crerar (SRU) and completed by Douglas Hunter and Iain Goodall (both SRU), found that the player did not "strike" his opponent with his head within the meaning of Law: 10.4 (a).
Law: 10.4 (a) - Punching or striking: A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
MATT McCULLOUGH - ULSTER RUGBY
The citing against Ulster Rugby player Matt McCullough, lodged after the Round 4 Heineken Cup Pool 4 match between Saracens and Ulster Rugby at Vicarage Road on Saturday, 17 December, was dismissed by an independent Disciplinary Committee in Glasgow today (Friday, 23 December).
The citing was lodged by ERC appointed Citing Commissioner for the match, Terry Vaux (Wales).
An independent Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Professor Lorne D. Crerar (SRU) and completed by Douglas Hunter and Iain Goodall (both SRU), found that no act of foul play in contravention of Law: 10.4 (a) had occured.
(Law: 10.4 (a) - Punching or striking: A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).)
ERC DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
(i) Citing Commissioner
a) for live televised games a Citing Commissioner will be appointed by ERC and shall be entitled to cite a Player for any act or acts of Foul Play that in the Citing Commissioner's opinion warranted the player being shown a red card.
b) Clubs will not have the power to cite a player but may refer incidents to the Citing Commissioner within 12 hours of the conclusion of the match.
c) The Citing Commissioner will have 50 hours from the start of the game to make a citing and the determination of the Citing Commissioner will be final and binding.
d) Should the Citing Commissioner decide there is a case to answer he will notify the Disciplinary Officer and the Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.
e) This case will then proceed to a disciplinary hearing.
(ii) Citing Officer
a) for non-televised games, where a player is cited by either of the clubs competing in the match, his case shall be immediately referred to the Citing Officer.
b) The citing must be submitted in writing and received by the Citing Officer within 50 hours of the start of the match. The Citing Officer will consider the citing and decide whether the player cited has a case to answer.
c) After this review, if the Citing Officer determines there is no case to answer, no further action will be taken. The determination of the Citing Officer will be final and binding.
d) Should the Citing Officer decide there is a case to answer he will notify the Disciplinary Officer and the Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.
e) This case will then proceed to a Disciplinary Hearing.
(iii) Independent Disciplinary Committee
a) The independent Disciplinary Committee is chosen by the Chairman of Discipline, Professor Lorne Crerar.
b) The three-man panel normally consists of a legal expert (Chairman), an eminent rugby administrator and former player.
c) No member of the independent Disciplinary Committee may be chosen from a country whose club is a party to the complaint.
d) The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, presents the case against any cited player.
