Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/544/24
Bayley Sironen #15, Catalans
Competition:
Challenge Cup
Match:
Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants
Match Date:
2024-04-13
Incident:
Head Contact
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Laws 15.1(b)
Head Contact
Grade E
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 15th April 2024, 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 22 44 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted your opponent in the head or neck when attempting a tackle. In the Panel’s opinion this is serious misconduct, has the potential for serious injury and is against the spirit of the game.
In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade E offence – Head Contact.
The normal suspension range for such offence is 3 to 5 matches.
• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.
• The footage shows Mr Sironen’s opponent, Mr Salabio take a ball carry into contact with Mr Sironen and is contacted in the head.
• The player is bleeding after contact and is unable to stand unsupported.
• The Match Review Panel deemed this to be forceful and dangerous and that this was high level of force and danger. For a contact to the head with high level of force and danger, the entry grading the Match Review Panel submit is a Grade D charge.
• The Match Review Panel do not believe that there were any mitigating factors at play with regards this incident.
• The aggravating factors are:
- Tackler makes no definite attempt to change height in an effort to avoid the ball carrier’s head.
- Trajectory of tackler’s head, arm or shoulder always going towards ball carrier’s head
- The ball carrier fails a Head Injury Assessment.
• The Match Review Panel believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this to a Grade E charge.
Decision:
Not Guilty
Reasons for Decision:
There's been some further communication between the RFL / MRP and the Catalan team including the provision of new footage which has caused the match review panel, to take a different view than they had yesterday, and they don't intend to pursue this case any other longer.
Therefore the panel allow the appeal and that there's no offence proved or penalty to be imposed in respect of this particular case.