Case Number:

ON/910/22

Joel Farrell #12, Sheffield

Competition:

Championship

Match:

Halifax Panthers v Sheffield Eagles

Match Date:

2022-05-15

Incident:

Punching

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Punching – Other Striking offences

Grade D

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Not Guilty

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 19 May 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:26:23 SharePoint time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you became involved in an incident and punched an opponent during the course of a match. The Panel believe that your actions were unnecessary, against the spirit of the game and had the potential to injure your opponent.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence in breach of Law 15.1(a) – Punching/Other Striking Offences – Punched an opponent during the course of a match.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 3 to 5 matches period of suspension.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Player in attendance alongside Ged Corcoran (Assistant Coach). Player pleads Not Guilty.

GC explained that the player did not intentionally punch his opponent. He had seen the opponent in a grapple with a team mate on the floor and sought to get his arm across to get hold of the opponent.

Any contact was accidental and was certainly not a punch.

JF also talked the panel through the incident and reiterated the above comments.

Decision:

Guilty

Reasons for Decision:

Having watched the footage and listened to the submissions from both sides the Tribunal are wholly satisfied that a punch was thrown.

They are also in agreement that contact was made to the head of the opponent. The footage is clear that the player took aim with his left arm and connected with the opponent.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place at 26 23 of the footage time.
• The footage shows player is involved in a melee initially but is pulled away.
• The melee then continues, and the player gets involved again.
• Mr Farrell can be seen to come into contact with the opponent on the ground and aims a fist into the opponent’s head
• Opponent is unable to adequately defend themselves due to being held within the melee.
• There is potential for such incidents to cause injuries to opponents.
• Graded D due to;
- Intentional act
- Opponent vulnerable
- Potential for injury

Aggravating Factors:

23/09/17 – Striking (Grade E – 5 matches)
23/08/16 – Striking (Grade A – 1 match)
08/06/16 – Striking (Grade C – 3 matches)

12/09/19 – Dangerous Contact (Caution)
23/08/18 – Striking (Caution)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal are in agreement that the grading for this charge is correct at Grade D.

No credit can be given for a Not Guilty plea, although they note that the player has nothing similar on his record from recent years.

They Tribunal therefore feel a 4-match suspension and £250 are appropriate.

Suspension:

4 matches