Two week suspension for Brive's Barozzi

Barozzi was shown a red card in the 80th minute of the match by referee, George Clancy (Ireland), for punching the Biarritz Olympique player, Talalelei Gray (No 7), in contravention of Law 10.4(a).

In the same incident, Barozzi was also alleged to have to have struck Gray with his head in contravention of Law 10.4(a). The citing complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Eddie Walsh (Ireland).

The appointed independent Judicial Officer, Judge Jeff Blackett (England), heard submissions regarding both incidents by video conference from Barozzi, from the Brive assistant coach, Nicolas Godignon, and from ERC's Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor.

Employing the IRB recommended sanctions for Law 10.4(a), Judge Blackett decided that the offences were at the low end entry points of two (2) weeks for striking with the fist and of four (4) weeks for striking with the head.

Having taken into account the player's guilty pleas to both offences, he reduced the period for striking with the fist by one (1) week, and reduced the period for striking with the head by two (2) weeks.

Judge Blackett imposed suspensions of one (1) week and two (2) weeks with both to run concurrently. Barozzi is therefore free to play on Thursday, 17 May 2012. Both the player and ERC have the right to appeal the decisions.

Law 10.4(a) Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, Law 10.4(a), carries the following penalties: Lower End: 2 weeks; Mid Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 8+ to 52 weeks

Law 10.4(a) Striking another player with the head
Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, Law 10.4(a), carries the following penalties: Lower End: 4 weeks; Mid Range: 8 weeks; Top End: 12+ to 104 weeks

i)Red Cards
a) The case of any player sent off in the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup game shall be adjudicated by an independent Judicial Officer as soon as is practicable.
b) Until the hearing the player is ineligible to play in any tournament.

ii) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners are appointed by ERC for all Heineken Cup and all televised Amlin 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. In exceptional circumstances this deadline can be extended.
d) The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor may forward the submitted Citing to a Citing Officer to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for the citing to progress.
e) The Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.
f) Until the citing hearing, a cited player is eligible to play in ERC tournaments.
iii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Judicial Officer is chosen by the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
b) ERC's Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, presents the case against the player.
c) Both parties to the hearing (ERC and the player) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Hearing. Appeals must be lodged within 3 working days of receiving the full written decision of the independent Judicial Officer.
d) The full written decision of the independent Judicial Officer will be available on www.ercrugby.com/disciplinenews when the disciplinary process is complete
e) For IRB recommended sanctions for offences committed within the playing enclosure, Law 10.4(a), go to www.irb.com