Case Number:

ON/1451/22

Jarrod Sammut #6, Barrow

Competition:

Championship

Match:

Barrow Raiders v Widnes Vikings

Match Date:

2022-07-31

Incident:

Dangerous contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Dangerous Contact - Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Grade B

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenges the grading

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

Guilty but challenges the grading

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 4 August 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 02:11:50 SharePoint time of the above match. You were sin binned following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you applied pressure to the leg of your opponent using your body. 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 B offence – Dangerous Contact - Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from 1 to 2 matches.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in the Championship match between Barrow and Widnes.
• Mr Sammut was sin binned following the incident.
• The opponent is tackled initially by 2 of Mr Sammut’s team mates.
• The tackle then begins to move towards Mr Sammut.
• Mr Sammut is considered initially in his approach. He does not enter the tackle at speed.
• The player then drops his shoulder down towards the right leg of his opponent.
• Main contact is on the side of the knee.
• The opponent’s leg is taken out of its natural range of movement.
• The MRP believe these actions to be reckless.
• The opponent is in a vulnerable position. The tackle is not going anywhere.
• There were other ways to complete the tackle in a safe manner.
• This act had the potential for injury.

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

Player in attendance alongside Steve Neale (Chairman). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

JS talked the panel through the incident. He explained he was trying to complete the tackle as two of his teammates were involved and tackling the opponent high up. He said he was aiming to take the player to ground by hitting the back of his leg, however, ended up making contact with the knee.

He was trying to not be careless but just before he made contact the twisting motion applied by his teammates meant that the planned contact came off incorrectly. He apologised to the opponent after the game and the opponent suffered no injury and was able to carry on. He felt that he had let his side down having been sin-binned at a crucial time of the game.

SN explained that JS had not entered at pace and that it was not a “cannonball” type of tackle. JS had no intent to cause injury to the opponent and that the actions of his teammates twisting the opponent had contributed to how the tackle ended. there was no aggressiveness from JS and it was an accident and not reckless.

JS had been temporarily dismissed following the tackle and that punishment came at a time when the game was close. He felt that the incident should be downgraded to a Grade A charge.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Grade B due to:
- Reckless act.
- Main point of contact is with the side of the knee.
- Other ways to complete a safe tackle.
- Potential for injury.

Aggravating Factors:

12/03/20 – Dangerous Throw – Grade D – 4 matches)
24/01/19 – Contact with Match Official – Grade C – 2 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

After hearing submissions and watching the footage several times it was agreed by the panel that whist this was not intentional it was indeed a reckless act. Therefore, in all of the circumstances the panel feel that this was correctly graded at Grade B.

The Tribunal agree with the Match Review Panel that a 1-match suspension is sufficient. The player will also be fined £250.

The club will also lose the £250 bond submitted for bringing the challenge to the imposed penalty notice.

Suspension:

1 match