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Mon 21 Jan 2013 | 09:08
Antoine Battut cited after straight red card for knee against Munster

44
Comments

Racing Metro forward Antoine Battut was shown a straight red card during the Heineken Cup Round 6, Pool 1 match against Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday. He and three other players have been cited following an eventful weekend of rugby.

Battut was send off by referee Wayne Barnes in the 5th minute of the match for an alleged strike with the knee on an opponent, which is in direct contravention of Law 10.4(a).

Law 10.4(a) – Striking or Punching: A player must not strike an opponent with a fist or arm including the elbow, shoulder, head or knees

Robert Williams of Wales has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer for the hearing, which will take place in Dublin on Thursday, 24 January.

Under the IRB Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4(a) striking with the knee carries the following sanction entry points: Low End: 3 weeks; Mid Range: 8 weeks; Top End: 12 to 52 weeks.

Three other players cited

- Toulon's Delon Armitage was yellow carded for an alleged tip tackle
- Rovigo's Jean Francois Montauriol is alleged to have trampled/stamped on a Perpignan player
- Rovigo centre Joe Van Niekerk was shown a red card for an alleged tip tackle

All four players will convene in Dublin on 24 January for their respective discplinary hearings.

Posted By: Grant Constable

44 Comments

  • frenchie
    8:21 PM 14/02/2013

    Ridiculous call by the ref. And never the ref refers to the knee, only to the fact that Battut used his head. On both angles (knee or head) i don't see much violence there.

  • xxxwookie
    8:43 PM 25/01/2013

    but a "citation" by it's simplest definition is merely a summons. Whether or not it comess from the citing officer. The red card itself is an automatic citation - simple definition.

  • drg
    7:29 PM 25/01/2013

    But what I am saying is that INTENT has nothing to do with it... Rugby laws are quite clear on things like this, players are punished for "Striking" not "intending to strike and following up on the intentions".

    I understand what you're getting at, and I'm not sure whether our disagreement, is merely down to terminology. I remember when BOD took a swing at someone and missed them, I'm not sure if the referee had a word with him for doing it, but you cannot red card a player for TRYING to knee someone and missing. That being said, I watched a clip provided by chrismtl below and from the replay a 14:00 the knee is much more clear.

  • allthetimeref
    10:20 AM 25/01/2013

    Here's the IRB regulation. I suggest you read it:

    Regulation 17.9.2 Citing Commissioners may cite Players for an act(s) of Foul Play where such act(s) may have been detected by the referee or assistant referee and which may have been the subject of referee action.



    A Citing Commissioner may not cite a Player for an act(s) of Foul Play
    in respect of which the Player has been Ordered Off {save where the Ordering Off is as a result of two yellow cards. }


    A Player in that situation may also be cited for the act(s) of Foul Play which resulted in either or both yellow card(s).

    The middle bit is quite clear.

  • 9:54 AM 25/01/2013

    No he is not. Citing is done by the citing officer. The end result is the same a disciplinary hearing . But they are NOT cited.

  • 9:52 AM 25/01/2013

    Oh dear Miss de Point!

    Think about it!

    1; I intend to kick you. I don't get the chance to do so. So I had intent but no one will every know.

    2; I intend to kick you. I try to do so. People see it an the ref deals with it.

    3; I intend to kick you. I succeed. You are injured. The ref deals with it.

    If your child tries to knee / hit another child do you ignore it if he misses? Of course not.

  • 9:47 AM 25/01/2013

    Excellent comment!

  • 9:46 AM 25/01/2013

    He tried to knee him. That is not mere "intent" but an actual attempt. Same as throwing a punch, you've thrown it end of land or not. Tough that you're not very good at being a thug. Try to do it and I'll send you off.

  • 9:44 AM 25/01/2013

    So what?

  • 9:44 AM 25/01/2013

    Clear red. Perhaps the second incident was not seen? It happens.

  • 9:42 AM 25/01/2013

    Clear red. Aim a knee at a player and your going (if seen). Good spot by Barnes.

  • 9:41 AM 25/01/2013

    Yes All reds have automatic hearings. Your second paragraph is correct. This site and the press / media should take the time to get their "facts" right.

  • drg
    3:58 AM 25/01/2013

    Firstly, intent has nothing to do with it.

    Secondly that FIRST STRIKE you're pointing out at 1:21 is the Number 5 and NOT the number 6 (the guy who got a red card.

    So if that is the action which you feel is worthy of a red card then that is TERRIBLE work by Wayne Barnes as he red carded the wrong player!

  • drg
    3:55 AM 25/01/2013

    I sort of agree and disagree. I agree because I personally do not see where the knee made contact with a head, maybe I need my eyes tested but I can't see it.

    I disagree however because what you're suggesting is to introduce a varying scale on which referee's have to judge certain forces. For instance, Berrick Barnes appears to have a bit of a glass jaw, so lets say you could throw a "weak punch" at him and cause a knockout, yet throw a "bloody great haymaker" at Bakkies Botha which may tickle his chin... Now when you compare the two punches it could be said that the "bloody great haymaker" may have KILLED Berrick Barnes, but because it tickled Meathead Botha who suffered no ill effects then it should go unpunished?

  • drg
    3:48 AM 25/01/2013

    LMAO, if only I could be rewarded for the things I INTENDED on doing. Then again, there's a couple things I have intended on doing in some games which could land me in hot water.

  • drg
    3:47 AM 25/01/2013

    Why? Because an automatic investigation is done into any red card?

    I only question this because sometimes a referee may give a red card yet the offence may not need any further punishment.

  • browner
    7:42 PM 24/01/2013

    Then the whole stadium should look at the referees 'secondary signal"

    Primary signal = Penalty to Munster
    Secondary Signal [twice] = Knee lifted [& then a tap on the head for extra francias clarity]

  • browner
    7:28 PM 24/01/2013

    This really is a no brainer .............

    idiotic "foul play" 1.5secs after the whistle had stopped playand under the referee's nose

    The victim, red 5 & red1 all reacted in unison, so you have to accept the evidence is conclusive

    A 100% cheap shot into the back of the head of a player lying prone & unprotected

    but crucially watch WB eyes, he sees the kneeing, he looks straight at the perpetrator and immediately goes for his whistle & pocket WITHOUT LOOKING at any of the red players [or their gestures]

    Card colour can be debated, but If I was a fan who'd paid to travel to watch my team I would be furious with my player's lack of control/discipline.

    No 'first 10 minute protection 'period' IMO

    Well done WB [again]


    and they were

  • browner
    6:59 PM 24/01/2013

    Show me any law where a referee can penalise an "intended foul play" action.

    Lets stick to 'actuals', not potentials, maybes, what if's etc.....

    Lats week I intended to make a try saving tackle...I missed, but maybe I should be awarded it !!!

    ts

  • themull
    3:10 PM 24/01/2013

    Knee to the head....Red card completely justified, even though it guaranteed Munster a place in the quarters ahead of Leinster :(...

    Anybody claiming this is not a red card is an idiot plain and simple...he knees a defenseless man in the head..I'm all for fisticuffs and a few punches being merely a yellow at most, but you cant allow men to go around dropping knees in rucks...Sounds like people have sour grapes on here, and don't like the fact that Munster got through....

    On a side note, I do believe they need to restructure the HC group stages...Maybe have less groups/less teams..At the moment only two second place teams make it through, meaning if you draw a group with some of the weaker teams you have a huge advantage of making it through to the knockout stages...

    I know I'm probably biased here butlLook at the Leinster this year for an example..They put it right up to Clermont twice, most likely eventual champions, while missing 3 of their most dangerous players, yet they are demoted to the amlin cup while teams who got by mostly based on the strength of the group they were drawn proceed...Even if they were to have playoffs amongst all of the second placed teams to decide who joins the group winners in the quarters..

    Here's hoping Ulster pull it off this year, but smart money on Toulon or Clermont..

  • dixy
    10:07 AM 24/01/2013

    seriously check that video they even slow it down.... he knees the player with a scrum cap.
    Striking red justified

  • chrismtl
    2:03 AM 23/01/2013

    I posted the link and time in a post...

    Here is the video I was talking about. Skip to 14:00.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWu2RVezd_M

  • curates_egg
    7:18 PM 22/01/2013

    About the tenth time I've seen this now. There is another angle that is slightly better that is not in this clip...but I have still to see the knee to the head. Could someone who has seen it give me a definitive time for the alleged incident? Or a better clip. I can see him clumsily dropping the knee but it looks like its to DOC's back. Then you see Tommy O'Donnell writhing.

    One thing's for certain, it totally changed the match and guaranteed Munster a place in the quarter finals. Whether it was Barnes or Battut that was wrong is irrelevant on that point.

  • colombes
    6:26 PM 22/01/2013

    Red card for the intent, more than for the damages. Barnes seemed really sure of him to kill the match at the 5th minute. On another hand, racing must work their discipline basics
    Ps: shame for the munster player who makes the soccer player combo: cry, hands on the head, a look to the ref...

  • mikewill7
    5:44 PM 22/01/2013

    What is happening to the game I played and loved, players and refs are turning into a bunch of drama queens, it's becoming like soccer!!!!

  • chrismtl
    4:54 PM 22/01/2013

    Here is the video I was talking about. Skip to 14:00.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWu2RVezd_M

  • chrismtl
    4:43 PM 22/01/2013

    To all the people who said that his knee never made contact, I was watching this same feed live, and about 2 or 3 minutes after the end of this clip, they go back to look at it again from a different angle, and you can CLEARLY see his knee hit the guys head. After watching this clip live, I was left also scratching my head because the last replay makes it look like he missed. I can, however, assure you that he made clear contact with his knee to the head of the opponent. The other big thing is that it is about 2-3 seconds AFTER the whistle. This was the right call. No place for cheapshots in the game.

  • xxxwookie
    1:10 PM 22/01/2013

    @allthetimeref (because it keeps coming up with a syntax error when I click reply)

    If you cite someone you summon them to answer for their act. A red card results in an automatic citation, but that player is still cited. Just for your clarity

  • xxxwookie
    1:09 PM 22/01/2013

    Simple rule - striking with the knee is a red card offence. If you're going to be that bloody stupid, don't do it at the head because it will always be considered worse.

  • 2:37 AM 22/01/2013

    Hmm. I don't even think it looks deliberate.

    By the way RD, I think you mistakenly put Joe van Niekerk as playing for Rovigo. Surely it's supposed to be Toulon?

  • daveyjake
    1:22 AM 22/01/2013

    I see two things here: a pathetic attempt of a knee to the head and acting as a result. Does it deserve a card? Yes. Does the card need to be red? No.

    The strike does not appear to be deliberate. In my opinion, Battut probably wanted to throw the knee but stopped himself midway because he realized what could happen. But is he an idiot for even thinking of throwing a knee, especially in front of Barnes? ABSOLUTELY!

  • lambchop1234
    1:09 AM 22/01/2013

    Very clear refereeing from Wayne Barnes and straight to the point as well. Good decision and red card certainly deserved!

  • reality
    12:42 AM 22/01/2013

    This guy is like someone on America's Dumbest Criminals. Right in front of the referee, no reason at all to do it, and then he didn't even do it properly! After watching their incompetence against Saracens, and now this, my opinion of Racing Metro is very low.

    I wish O'Donnell could be banned too for play-acting. Gets the knee, takes a second to realise he can pretend it was worse than it was, starts screaming, and then looks at the referee to see if he's noticed. I can't believe they're through and Leinster aren't.

  • daluaine
    12:15 AM 22/01/2013

    After watching the clip many times, it is difficult to see a red card offence. Not sure what the scrum-capped player is screaming about; possibly more damage could/would have been caused by studs on the head of the number 13. However, pretty stupid thing to do after the whistle had blown. As always, you want to give the referee the benefit of the doubt as they see it only once and in real time. But with the luxury of the replay ... a verbal warning only for me; no card, yellow or red.

  • doyler
    11:58 PM 21/01/2013

    But look where Barnes was standing. Perfect View.

  • facepalm
    11:58 PM 21/01/2013

    haha also good to see Armitage back on the citing list. I thought it had been a while.

  • facepalm
    11:57 PM 21/01/2013

    Absolutely nothing. It's so frustrating to see the Munster player screaming in pain as if he's in agony. I understand it's the Heineken Cup but that's not an excuse. He's screaming so loud it's picked up by Barnes' mic.

  • 11:55 PM 21/01/2013

    Not wanting to start a debate here, but it looks like he didn't hit him at all

  • doyler
    11:53 PM 21/01/2013

    But the whole stadium was bemused as nobody had a CLUE what had happened!!!

  • doyler
    11:52 PM 21/01/2013

    brave (considering the match was only 5 minutes old!) but perfectly correct decision. And, demosys, Wayne Barnes didn't destroy the game, Antoine Battut did. He left Barnes with NO option. Deliberate Knee to Head, straight Red, no option. And, Johnathan Sayer, you say he 'hardly even touched him'. So you admit that HE DID MAKE CONTACT. So the red card stands. Or should he only be red carded if the player is knocked unconscious?

  • redyeti
    11:30 PM 21/01/2013

    Didn't look like his knee got anywhere near the head on the second replay

  • demosys
    11:28 PM 21/01/2013

    Red card Oo ????? Yellow is ok. Thank you Mr Barnes for destroying the game so early, another bad call your this referee.
    And what about the Murray's punch on Descons. Not even a penalty ????

  • 11:22 PM 21/01/2013

    Another horrific call by Barnes. Hardly even touched him! Utter rubbish.

  • ollie
    11:19 PM 21/01/2013

    Blatant red card offense. Good clear refereeing... Done and dusted...

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