Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/1598/22
Matty Fozard #9, Widnes
Competition:
Championship
Match:
Whitehaven v Widnes
Match Date:
2022-08-14
Incident:
Dangerous Contact
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (i)
Dangerous Contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle.
Grade B
Sanctions:
1 Match Penalty Notice
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Not Guilty
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident and were concerned by the contact of Mr Fozard.
• The incident was placed on report.
• The opponent is tackled initially by Mr Fozard.
• As the tackle develops the player’s team mate comes in and contacts the opponent low.
• The player takes a grip of the opponent’s arm.
• Player keeps the opponent tight to his body using this grip and twists the opponent over.
• Mr Fozard then works the opponent to floor and applies pressure on the back of the opponents head and neck.
• This is for a significant period of time before the player allows the head to come free.
• The opponent is vulnerable as he is kept in tight by the grip of Mr Fozard and the legitimate actions of Mr Fozard’ s team mate.
• Opponent is clearly injured.
• Player has failed in his duty of care owed to his opponent.
• Sole contributor to pressure being applied. Team mates actions have no impact on the tackle.
• Actions are clearly considered. Player has alternative ways in which to complete the tackle
• Grade B due to:
- Reckless contact and unnecessary
- Pressure is applied for a significant period of time
- Involves an unacceptable risk of injury to the player
- No duty of care shown towards opponent
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
A legitimate tackle, 'caught' the player as he tried to find the ground and turned him over, making space for his head and landed chest to chest Both player and coach (John Kear) talked the ORT through the match footage frame by frame
Decision:
Not Guilty
Reasons for Decision:
ORT accepted the reasoning given by the player and his coach