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Six Nations statement: Why the Owen Farrell red card was rescinded
By Liam Heagney
The Six Nations have issued a statement explaining the decision by an independent disciplinary hearing to free the red-carded Owen Farrell to play again with immediate effect. There were grave fears that the England skipper could be banned for up to six matches following last Saturday’s incident with Wales’ Taine Basham at Twickenham.
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Farrell was initially given a yellow card but was soon told while sitting in the sin bin that the sanction was being upgraded to a red card following review by the TMO bunker.
However, rather than England having to deal with their captain being unavailable for the start of their Rugby World Cup campaign on September 9 versus Argentina in Marseille, he has instead been cleared to play and is available for selection for this Saturday’s Summer Nations Series game away to Ireland in Dublin.
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A statement following the three-and-a-half hour judicial hearing read: “England fly-half Owen Farrell appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to law 9.13 (a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously; dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders) in the Summer Nations Series match between England and Wales on Saturday, August 12.
“The independent judicial committee consisting of Adam Casselden (SC, chair), John Langford and David Croft (all from Australia) heard the case, considering all the available evidence and submissions from the player and his representative. The player acknowledged that whilst he had committed an act of foul play, he denied that the act was worthy of a red card.
“After reviewing all the evidence, questioning the player in detail and hearing submissions from the player’s representative, the committee concluded that the foul play review officer was wrong on the balance of probabilities to upgrade the yellow card issued to the player to a red card.
“The committee determined, when applying World Rugby’s head contact process, that mitigation should be applied to the high degree of danger found by the foul play review officer. The committee found that a late change in dynamics due to England No2’s interaction [Jamie George] in the contact area brought about a sudden and significant change in direction from the ball carrier.
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“In the committee’s opinion, this mitigation was sufficient to bring the player’s act of foul play below the red card threshold. The committee believes it is important to record that no criticism is made of the foul play review officer nor would any be warranted.
“Unlike the foul play review officer, the committee had the luxury of time to deliberate and consider, in private, the incident and the proper application of the head contact process.
“The committee believes this is in contrast to the foul play review officer, who was required to make his decision in a matter of minutes without the benefit of all the additional material including hearing from the player and his legal representative.
“On that basis, the committee did not uphold the red card and the player is free to play again immediately.”
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Well if you going to bring a KC can the minor nations use him too paid for by World Rugby? I say get rid of this red card fiasco and introduce a reporting regime post game and penalty of course.
It was the right decision, as he was merely defending himself from a sudden direction change. Red card was ridiculous.
Yes! And also did you see how the Welsh player viciously attacked poor Owen shoulder with his head? I mean, absolutely scandalous! Luckily Owen made ABSOLUTELUY no movement to say, lower his stance or open his arms. Otherwise, just immagine, he may even had (GASP) tackled the guy!
Corruption. Need to get the leader of the corrupt pack to front up to the rugby public and explain how this was rescinded and he has 0 match bans. He keeps doing it and getting away with it. I guarantee in the world cup you will see a shoulder charge not as bad as Farrell's and the player involved will have a multiple match ban. Do yourself a favour and watch the Farrell's shoulder tackle against the Bok Andre Esterhuizen. I've never seen anything that bad in 20 years. Went unpunished. I hope someone puts that bastard in a wheelchair.
And Tongas star centre George Moala gets 20 weeks suspension for his red card in Tongas match against Canada over the weekend. Totally Unbelievable!!
Absolutely ridiculous and a demonstration of selective interpretation of the Law and subsequent decision making. 😡
The decision isn’t absurd. If there is mitigation, which there is here because of the change in direction, the foul play may be downgraded to a yellow card. What everything turns on is whether or not the mitigation is sufficient - which is an entirely subjective call. But for the change in direction, Farrell wouldn’t have hit is head - so was not unreasonable to make the call they did.
The three JOs on the panel are much more experienced and in a better placed to make that subjective call than anyone here / than the mob. The problem is the judicial framework, which WR try all the time to make more of a consistent and legally robust process, but which leads to more decisions like this that offend against rugby common sense!
What if the player changed direction on its own?
The panel must be the only people on the planet who thought that George's "push" on Basham was sufficient mitigation for their decision.
It's beyond outrageous this thug has a history of trying to seriously injure opposition players and his record shows this this is a decision that was bought and paid for it's that simple their is no other reason for such a blatantly crass decision as this. It's idiots like this panel who are destroying our game there is absolutely no excuse for this and there is no mitigation what so ever other than to ensure this thug can play in the world cup. This has destroyed any faith that fans of this game have in its ruling body they should be all sacked.
so world rugby set the standard for this RWC.
so each and every red card dished out has to be treated as per Farrel saga - this has opened a can of WTF if you asked me...sad and disappointing...
Oh, yes- "England No2’s interaction". Well further it will be the rain, the snow, a muddy pitch, a bird even a mosquito affecting dynamics.
I have never seen the online rugby community as united as over this idiotic decision. A World In Union indeed!
The decision is a disgrace (said as an Englishman). I think most sane people agree. This type of 'tackle' is no surprise to anyone who has watched Farrell assault his way through his career.
But what is worth noting, the decision was made by an independent panel. Not World Rugby.
I 'believe', that World Rugby can look at this decision and appeal or potentially over rule it.
World Rugby have dropped the ball in many areas but the blame for this one doesn't lie with them....unless I am right, and they have the power to appeal, but don't
This is corrupt. What an absurd situation. International Rugby Board should hang their heads in shame. Is Boris J in charge?
Meanwhile George Moala is suspended for 10 weeks for a tip tackle that was less dangerous than this. Michael Leitch is out for 3 weeks for the exact same thing that Owen did. Clear all of them to play or none of them, how tf is it that the only one to avoid suspension is the only one who is a serial offender? They've got it completely backwards.
Add Malia to it: 2 weeks for blocking a kick
this is pathetic. Farrell is upright and never attempts to stoop down to tackle he was always intending to do one of his trademark shoulder charges. Pathetic he got off on a weak excuse where the 2nd player hardly changed the trajectory of the runner. The key is the tackler is upright and looking to shoulder hit.
Shocking decision. Farrell didn't even try and use his arms, just straight in with the shoulder
England won't go far in any case. He'll be watching the RWC from home soon enough.
The panel made the correct decision because they examined the case with due process. The hysteria surrounding this incident is utterly absurd. As I stated from the get go, the yellow was sufficient and now this has been well and truly vindicated.
Yep. of course it was enough. Just as you would have scream fro death penalty in opposite colors.
This reeks of Brett Gosper. He lives so far up the backside of the RFU it isn't funny. Independent committee? Yeah right.
What a joke. Even as an ardent Eng & Farrell fan I’m appalled by this decision. What kind of example does it set for kids to follow and it makes all those parents who are already nervous about their kids playing rugby (and pressuring schools to drop it), even more anti rugby. What a mess.
thankfully justice prevails against bigotry
And you might want to find a good optician
What a joke. How many times until the obvious becomes obvious. No foul intention, just a rush of blood to the head and that crap technique that no one seems to be able to coach out of him. Mind you, Steward's take in the air was a bad, shockingly naive.
Steward's take was another direct red, in my opinion. Players with other jersey colors would have gotten the red.
This mockery is so bad for rugby all over the spectrum, and just shows that Aussies have no balls. 😉 Eben Etzebeth got a yellow card against Argentina for alledgedly pushing an Argentine into his own player, so going by this panel's reasoning the England hooker should have been sin binned, because he caused Farrel to take the guys head off? Fooookit.....
Yep. The main problem is there is not an equal judgement.
Nah man, we are not all equal before the law. I’m sorry, but it matters who you are and which country you represent. Farce
Yeah that’s extremely very cynical. Farrell in fact still had time to get his hands up and push himself away instead of thenoarms dig the shoulder into the face.
The point was supposed to be that players have to be prepared to not make the tackle.
Anyone been stepped and flung the arm out getting the ball carrier across the neck. Pure instinct but always a foul none the less
I’ve seen guys hit chest and slip up get red carded.
I've watched and rewatched the clip and I cannot for the life of me understand the reasoning. Complete and utter reckless approach to another player with a leading shoulder (that was always too high), no attempt to wrap & plenty of previous.
As an Englishman I'm appalled and embarrassed.
As a rugby fan it just tarnishes the game.
Have the Australian review committee been vetted for extreme sarcasm???
He admitted it was a bad tackle and argued it should have been yellow only; who cares with that amount of previous??? An utter joke.
Good decision, clearly unavoidable rugby incident as soon as George starts the tackle.
Sure, if only the meaning of tackle was "charge with the shoulder at head height"...
Surely, you’re joking. Farrell not even attempting to wrap, and instead leading with his shoulder was unavoidable?
Can a coach/ref/third party query this decision. IMO match official who upgraded to red must be wondering what he did wrong
This decision has the credibility of a Kremlin press release, it’s utterly laughable, and everyone with half a brain knows it, though not everyone will dare to admit it. The country club is still alive, and certain players are subject to a different set of rules, and if need be, the rulebook will bend around them.
The message is received loud and clear, World Rugby. All doubt has been removed.
Ha, world rugby continues to show how corrupt it is. What a joke.
Sexton and Farrell are subject to a different set of rules to everybody else playing the game. We can't help but shoot ourselves in the foot over and over again.
I don't know how you're equating the 2, sexton got banned for words he used, Farrell didn't get banned for concussing someone
Ah yes the classic “the player in front of me was about to be tackled so I had no choice but to tuck my arm and drive forward with my shoulder so when the tackle was completed I couldn’t move out of the way and had to continue driving my shoulder into his face” defence.
Obviously player welfare is not a priority here. Farrell had no intention of a tackle. He sets his shoulder and it is the only likely outcome was a cheap hit.
World Rugby needs to come out explain what they are doing for player welfare.
This statement undermines every TMO and the whole bunker system. It make a mockery of the tackle process to look after players health, and I hope former players now sue the unions involved. And it also allows two players to ‘ attack’ an opponent by pushing him into a tackle where defender number 2 wipes him out with a shoulder. And says “sorry ref, he moved from where I was gonna tackle him”!
I totally agree it is a mockery ... but the bit about it allowing players to attack an opponent.. I mean, you really think rugby players have that level of motivation??? Heading a little Tin Foil Hat there I think.
Fantastic news!! As a Bok supporter this is music to my ears! This man is singlehandedly the biggest liability to England and I hope he's on the pitch if and when SA meet them in the RWC.... cause I doubt it will be for long!
He is a lability for sure. But right now he has gone is usual pre world cup judicial, meaning he is celar to do whatever he wants, cause no one will show him any card for the next 6 months. That's how it works with Farrell, how it always worked and is not going to change. People say is a nice bloke, maybe, I don't know him. But inside the filed he is a thug. This, coupled with the 2 weeks ban on Malia for blocking a kick, tells you who will reach the semifinals...
Agreed. And I'm an England supporter. Or was. Not with the rubbish they've been dishing up lately on the field. Outrageous decision. Should have been banned for six weeks minimum. Argentina to win the pool stage with Samoa in second.
Degrades the entire judicial process. All credibility out the window.
I'm going to save the administrator some work "this comment has been deleted"
Blimey those must have been some serious chocky biscuits farrells KC brought with him.
There is zero credibility left in this totally arbitrary, dysfunctional judiciary review process.
The lawyers acting for the players bringing law suites against various governing bodies re long term effects of head trauma, have just been handed a gilt edged, gold wrapped present.
Absurd... so a week after putting in place the "bunker", "the committee" completely nullify its existence by claiming that a process put in place to overcome heat of the moment on-field decisions put the official (whose only job it is to review and make these decisions with the luxury of extra time) under too much pressure to make a decent decision about a clearly intentional high shot to the head that led to the player on the receiving end failing an HIA.
Imagine a French or Argentinian player getting this kind of special treatment. Would never happen.
... play on, nothing to see here.