Arnaud Mela, the Brive second row (No 5), is due to appear before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin on Thursday, 29 January 2009...
... as a result of a citing arising from the Round 6 European Challenge Cup Pool 4 match against Overmach Rugby Parma at the Stade Amédée Domenech on Thursday, 22 January, 2009.
The citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner for the match, Iain Goodall (Scotland), is for an alleged strike on Overmach Rugby Parma player Paul Emerick (13) in contravention of Law 10.4 (a)
The independent Disciplinary Committee will be chaired by Mr Mark McParland (Ireland) and will also comprise Mike Curling (England) and Michael Rafter (England).
Law 10.4 (a) - A player must not punch or strike an opponent
NOTES TO EDITORS:
(i) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners will be appointed by ERC for all Heineken Cup and all televised European Challenge Cup matches and shall be entitled to cite a Player for any act or acts of Foul Play that in the Citing Commissioner's opinion warranted a citing.
b) For such matches Clubs will not have the power to cite a player but may refer incidents to the Citing Commissioner within 24 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. In exceptional circumstances this deadline can be extended.
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) Independent Disciplinary Committee
a) Citings will be heard by an independent Disciplinary Committee as soon as is practicable. Until the hearing a cited player is eligible to play in ERC tournaments
b) The independent Disciplinary Committee is chosen by the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
c) The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, presents the case against the player
d) Both parties to the hearing (ERC and the player) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Committee. Appeals must be lodged within 72 hours of receiving the full written decision from the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Committee
e) The full written decision of the independent Disciplinary Committee will be available on www.ercrugby.com/disciplinnews when the disciplinary process is complete
