Gibson-Park cited for a yellow card against Marmion

European rugby officials held six disciplinary hearings following last weekend’s Champions and Challenge Cup action – four for red cards, the other two covering complaints including an investigation into the highly controversial yellow card given to Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park in Galway.

Many commentators felt the Irish half-back should have been shown a red card for the incident which occurred when he tackled Kieran Marmion in last Friday’s victory for Leinster at Connacht in the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup.

Gibson-Park only received a yellow card for the 56th-minute collision in the first leg which Leinster won 26-21, but his availability for this Friday’s second leg at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is now in jeopardy following one complaint per game. quoting Commissioner Maurizio Vancini.

Mike Brown | Roots of rugby

Mike Brown | Roots of rugby

Tolu Latu of Stade Français, Guy Porter of Leicester and Juan Cruz Mallia of Toulouse all have red card cases to answer in the Champions Cup while Challenge Cup audiences will cover the red card shown to Alex Muller of Brive and a citation for Edinburgh’s WP Nel. Here is the full list of audiences.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
Red card – Tolu Latu (French Stadium Paris)
Stade Français Paris substitute hooker Tolu Latu (No. 16) was shown a red card in his club’s Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 first leg against Racing 92 at the Jean Bouin stadium on Saturday.

Latu was sent off by referee Luke Pearce (England) in the 67th minute of the game for making contact with Racing 92 second row Baptiste Chouzenoux (No4) in the air in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.17. Jennifer Donovan (Ireland, Chair), Mitchell Read (England) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) were appointed as the Independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which took place via video link earlier today. [Tuesday].

The committee upheld the red decision, finding that Latu had committed an intentional act of foul play that warranted a red card. He then determined that the offense was at the top of World Rugby’s penalties and twelve weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. The committee decided to reduce the penalty by two weeks in view of the player’s guilty plea and apology, and it also decided to add a week to the penalty due to the player’s poor disciplinary record before imposing a suspension eleven weeks.

Red card – Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)
Leicester Tigers center Guy Porter (#13) was shown a red card in his club’s Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 first leg against ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Marcel-Michelin stadium on Sunday .

Porter was sent off by referee Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) in the 60th minute of the match for making contact with Clermont No8 chief Fritz Lee in a reckless manner in violation of Law 9.11. The hearing will take place tomorrow by videoconference [Wednesday] and nominations for an independent disciplinary committee are yet to be confirmed.

Red card – Juan Cruz Mallia (Stade Toulousain)
Stade Toulousain winger Juan Cruz Mallia (No. 14) was shown a red card in his club’s Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 first leg against Ulster at the Stadium on Saturday. Mallia was sent off by referee, Wayne Barnes (England), in the eleventh minute of the match for making contact with Ulster winger, Ben Moxham (No11), in the air in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.17. The details of the hearing will be communicated later.

Citing complaint – Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby)
EPCR have received a citing complaint against Leinster substitute scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park (No21) following his club’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 first leg tie against Connacht at the Sportsground friday.

Gibson-Park allegedly tackled Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion (No9) dangerously in the 56th minute of the game in contravention of Law 9.13. Philippe Cavalieros (France, chairman), Yannick Jauzion (France) and Mitchell Read (England) have been appointed as independent disciplinary committee for the hearing which will take place this evening by videoconference. [Tuesday]. The complaint was filed by the Match Citing Commissioner, Maurizio Vancini (Italy).

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Red card – Alex Muller (CA Brive)
CA Brive full-back Alex Muller (#15) was shown a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup matchday five against Saracens at the Amedee Domenech stadium on Friday. Muller was sent off by referee Mike Adamson (Scotland) in the 71st minute of the game for tackling Saracens substitute winger Ben Harris (No23) dangerously in contravention of Law 9.13. The details of the hearing will be communicated later.

Complaint Quote – WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby)
EPCR have received a complaint against Edinburgh replacement prop WP Nel (No18) following his club’s fifth EPCR Challenge Cup game against Section Paloise at the DAM Health Stadium on Friday. Nel allegedly hit the head of Section Paloise pillar, Téo Bordenave (No1), in a dangerous manner in the 42nd minute of the match in violation of Law 9.12.

Simon Thomas (Wales, Chairman), Donald Courtney (Ireland) and Martyn Wood (England) have been appointed as the Independent Disciplinary Panel for tomorrow’s hearing via video link [Wednesday]. The complaint was filed by the Match Citing Commissioner, Dana Teagarden (Germany).