Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/155/23
Bailey Antrobus #16, York
Competition:
Championship
Match:
Swinton Lions v York Knights
Match Date:
2023-03-05
Incident:
Unnecessary contact
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (i)
Testicles attacking
Grade F
Sanctions:
6+
Decision On Charge
Player plea:
Not Guilty
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 9th March 2023, 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 1 15 36 Sharepoint footage time of the above match. The incident was placed on report by the match referee. In the Panel’s opinion you have made unnecessary contact by grabbing the testicles of your opponent. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and are against the true spirit of the game.
In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade F offence – Testicles attacking.
The normal suspension range for such offence is 6 matches plus.
• The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 1 15 36 SharePoint time of the match.
• During a tackle, Bailey Antrobus turns in a tackle and opponent Joseph Lowe joins the tackle contacting the back of Mr Antrobus together with two of his teammates.
• As Mr Antrobus is going to ground, his left arm can be seen to be in tight and then suddenly pulls out of the contact area.
• The opponent, as this happens, looks towards the direction of the referee whilst on the ground, then pushes down on Mr Antrobus before again turning in the direction of the referee and gesturing by holding his genital area.
• Mr Lowe again remonstrates with Mr Antrobus and there is a further confrontation where both players push out at each other.
• The referee’s report states the following;
At a Swinton penalty on around 1.17.22 footage time, Joseph Lowe (Swinton Lions number 23) told me he had been squirrel gripped by Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights number 8). He was very frustrated and angry I could clearly tell, so I took my time and asked him clearly if he would like to report it officially and he said yes. I then spoke to both current on field captains at that moment and explained what was happening, but the game was to continue as normal, and it will be reviewed. I placed the incident on report and restarted the game with a penalty to Swinton for a different offence as the incident happened prior to this moment. I did not see a squirrel grip, or I would have taken the appropriate action.
• The player provided an additional report which states the following:
I was in the tackle and his hand ended up near my genital region. It could have been a coincidence that it was there as he was trying to palm me off. However, after that I felt a hard squeeze on the tip of my penis. This resulted in me reacting and yelling to the ref “squirrel grip”! Then me saying to the player “what the f*** are you doing you dog”! I push him in the back of the head as well. After the set completed and we got a penalty the ref asked if I want to complain. At first, I didn’t know what he meant but then I said, “yeah of course he grabbed my knob”.
• The Match Review Panel are satisfied that this was deliberate act committed by Mr Antrobus.
• Whilst the footage does not show the act being committed, Mr Antrobus’ arm is in tight then quickly pulls away and there is a clear reaction at the time from the opponent Mr Lowe.
• Mr Lowe is clearly upset and angered by the incident that he raises to the referee when there is a stoppage that he wishes to report the matter. The additional statement supports the events as he has detailed.
• This offence starts at Grade F. This is a serious case of misconduct and Mr Antrobus has sought to seek an advantage by showing a complete disregard for the opponent’s welfare and the negative and derogatory manner in he has acted – contrary to the true spirit of the game with such actions having no place on the Rugby League field of play.
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Player in attendance alongside Andrew Henderson (Head Coach). Player pleads Not Guilty.
AH informed the Tribunal that at no stage did BA grab the opponent following claims of a “squirrel grip” that was reported to the Referee.
Having watched the footage the club felt that the evidence was inconclusive. AH highlighted the fact the issue was reported to the Referee two minutes after it had meant to have occurred and that neither the Referee – who was just 10 metres away – or the Touch Judges had seen anything untoward.
The match had been a well-disciplined one throughout and no injury was caused to the opponent following the tackle. AH noted in the opponents statement he has said that BA was “trying to palm off” during the cause of the tackle and that it was only reported to the Referee after he asked the opponent if he would like to do so.
BA addressed the Tribunal and reiterated that he was Not Guilty of the charge. He would never attempt to do anything of this nature, and he was upset that he had been charged with such an offence.
He added that he had no previous disciplinary record, and he was not the type of character to do this kind of thing. He had suffered a backlash following the announcement of the charge and he felt that his hands and arms were nowhere near the area of the opponent.
Decision:
Not Guilty
Reasons for Decision:
The Tribunal thanked both sides for their submissions.
They note that without the opponent being available to be questioned his allegations cannot be tested, whilst the footage that was available was inconclusive.
Taking everything into account the Tribunal are not satisfied to the necessary standard of proof has been met. They therefore find the player Not Guilty.