Case Number:

ON/1640/22

Wellington Albert #8, London Broncos

Competition:

Championship

Match:

London B v Batley

Match Date:

2022-08-21

Incident:

High tackle

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

High tackle – reckless – tried to tackle but reckless about outcome

Grade B

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenge the grading

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

Guilty but challenge the grading

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 25th August 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(b) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01:38:46 SharePoint time of the above match. You were sin binned following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you made contact with the head of your opponent in attempting to make a tackle. The Panel believed that your actions had the potential to cause your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence High Tackle – Reckless About the Outcome – When tackling or attempting to tackle contacted with the head or neck of opponent.

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

• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Albert makes contact with his opponent.
• Opponent takes the ball from a shift play and releases the ball.
• Player is engaged by opponent and is fractionally late in making contact with the opponent after the ball has been released.
• Mr Albert makes initial contact with the top of the shoulder indicated by the opponents head coming forward.
• Player’s shoulder though is high and always going upwards and there is clear contact with the head.
• Opponent is not at an unreasonable height and has not dipped in anyway.
• Player has duty of care to not make contact with the opponents head.
• This contact was reckless. The player has the entire body to aim for.
• Potential for injury.

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

The player was in attendance alongside Mike Eccles (Interim Head Coach) and Dom Fenton (Football Administrator). Player pleads not guilty.

The Tribunal heard submissions from ME on behalf of the player who wished to submit that the offence should be downgraded from a Grade B offence to a Grade A offence.

The Tribunal heard submissions from ME on behalf of the player who wished to submit that the offence should be downgraded from a Grade B offence to a Grade a offence. Whilst it was accepted that the player had no previous involvement with the tribunal or indeed the match review panel, it was accepted that this was “shoulder to head” contact by the player.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Reasons for Decision:

• Graded B due to;
- Reckless contact. Makes contact with the head with no mitigating factors.
- Contact is minimal with the shoulder and shoulder of player is always going upwards.
- Significant force.
- Potential for injury.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal feel it was on any view a high tackle. It was accepted that the player could have and should have dipped lower than he did to start the tackle. On any view this had to be reckless.

As such the decision of the Tribunal was that the Match Review Panel findings were correct. After submissions from the RFL we also believe that this was a frivolous challenge in that the Match Review Panel could not on any view have reduced the charge if they had wished in this instance. It was clear for anyone to see that this was a tackle in which more care could have and should have been taken.

Therefore, the Tribunal confirmed the 1-march suspension imposed by the Match Review Panel and imposed a further one match suspension for the frivolous appeal. There will be a fine of £250 in the club will lose £250 bond.

Suspension:

2 matches