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Mon 28 May 2018 | 01:22
A headbutt is a headbutt as Folau Fainga'a gets red carded and suspended

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Comments

Brumbies hooker Folau Faainga'a has been suspended following a SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee that found him guilty of striking with the head, the offence he was red carded for against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Fainga'a pleaded guilty of contravening Law 9.12: Striking with the head after he was involved in a heated scuffle that started with him being penalised for flying in off his feet at a ruck.

Referee Marius van der Westhuizen used a TMO referral to get a closer look at what happened after that, and as replays showed - and arguably, exaggerated - his forehead did strike the Bulls player in the face. 

"You've got to control your emotions. He let his emotions get the better of him," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar. "I don't think it was vicious by any means. I think a red card today would be a sufficient enough penalty.. but there's a learning there for him.

Faainga'a has been suspended for one week, up to and including 3 June 2018.

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 additional evidence, including from the Player and submissions on his behalf, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.12"
 
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 4 weeks, given some degree of provocation before the incident and the relative lack of force in the contact between the 2 players."
 
"Taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's excellent Judicial record, his youth and inexperience and his pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 2 weeks.

"In addition, given the Player's good character and the fact that, in the Committee's view,  2 weeks was a wholly disproportionate sanction for an offence that only related to comparatively minor contact, the sanction was further reduced by an extra week."

The Brumbies took the lead in the last ten minutes, going on to win the match 38-28.

credit: rugby.com.au

Posted By: Grant Constable

8 Comments

  • drg
    10:48 AM 30/05/2018

    Yeh tbh, as pathetic as it was, you're right.. that was always 100% a red card, unless the referee used discretion..

    Certainly not one of those 'accidental' tip tackles or taking someone out in the air when they jump at the last second which is a topic for debate and argument round here.. I guess it's a bit soft, but if they want to say "headbutt or headbutting action no matter how much force = a red" we can agree or disagree on the necessity of a card, but at least it's a topic that's 99% consistent with referees..

  • moo
    9:56 AM 30/05/2018

    Problem is everyone knows the sanction for a 'headbutt'. This idiot even gave himself a good while to think about it before he did it - whistle gone + not heat of the moment. No sympathy.

  • thefrontrow
    11:54 AM 29/05/2018

    Oh I think we agree, under the current way of thinking this mere tap gets a card plus everything else you mention.

  • drg
    11:07 AM 29/05/2018

    Well I figure we're going to be girly about everything else, why not this... Agree with your second part about the free pass however...

  • thefrontrow
    10:47 AM 29/05/2018

    Yes this was a headbutt but only ever so slightly. Doesn't seem like a red to me. But God forbid if we upset the Concerned Housewives League of Richmond and don't immediatley march him off the field for this show of lawlessness.

    On another note, if someone taps/slaps you in the face like that you should get a free pass on smacking him around the ears.

    On yet another note, this run of foul play cards is very unlike the Brumbies. Wasn't that long ago that they were man for man one of the best (if not the best) clubs/franchises anywhere. Plus they played the smartest rugby. Wonder if this run of cards is just coincidence or a sign of something else.

  • im1
    8:18 AM 29/05/2018

    credit to the Bulls player for not making a big deal about it.

  • flanker2712
    8:35 PM 28/05/2018

    I would love to sit in on one of these committee meetings where they are trying to come up with reasons to reduce the ban. Why couldn't it just be:

    - Right guys, there was f*@$ all contact. What do we think? One week.
    - Yep.
    - Agreed.
    - OK one week it is.

  • drg
    6:02 PM 28/05/2018

    tit....

    I'm happy for 1/2 a yellow for diving in, a yellow for the headbutt and another 1/2 yellow for making yourself look like an idiot because the other player doesn't react...

    Pretty sure that equals a red..

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