Case Number:

ON/1024/24

Dec Patton #30, Featherstone

Competition:

Championship

Match:

Toulouse Olympique v Featherstone Rovers

Match Date:

2024-06-29

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Strikes with hand, arm, elbow, or shoulder – tackling player

Grade F

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

6+

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenges the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 4th July 2024, 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 15 16 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you struck your opponent in the head with your arm. The Panel believe your actions were serious misconduct and 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 F offence – Strikes with hand, arm, elbow, or shoulder – tackling player.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 6 matches plus.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.

• In the footage, the opponent can be seen to take a carry towards Mr Patton in the defensive line.

• Mr Patton at this point raises his left arm, that is bent at approximately 90 degrees and contacts his opponent in the head.

• The Match Review Panel submit this is not a legitimate tackle technique.

• Mr Patton can be seen to raise his arm from his waist and promote the arm forwards whilst coming off his feet.

• This action the Match Review Panel submit is highly dangerous and has no place within the game.

• The opponent could have been seriously injured due to the actions of Mr Patton. The fact the opponent was not more seriously injured is due to the actions of the opponent as opposed to anything Mr Patton has done in this instance.

• Players are aware of the dangers of contact with the head, yet Mr Patton has contacted his opponent in an illegal manner and in the head area.

• The Match Review Panel believe this to be an intentional act of foul play.
• Mr Patton’s standards have fallen below what is expected of a player and amount to Misconduct.

- Grade F due to:
? Not actions of a reasonable player
? Not a legitimate tackle technique
? Intentional act
? Potential for serious injury. The fact it did not occur is good luck as opposed to good judgment.
? Contact with the head.

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

Player in attendance alongside Martin Vickers (CEO). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

DP talked the panel through the incident. He felt that his actions were careless due to poor technique in the type of tackle he was trying to perform.

MV explained that DP had been caught out by the late footwork of the opponent, immediately realised his mistake and reduced the force in the collision to avoid injury.

The team had identified the opponent in their pre-match planning and DP was trying to hold him up in the tackle so his side could try to win back metres from in the collision.

DP made an apology on the field at the time. This was careless or reckless incident, but not intentional.

The club and player are pleading guilty to the charge but feel the grading some be lower and feel Grade C is more appropriate.

Decision:

Guilty

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have thought long and hard about this and are of the view that this is bad incident which they find impossible to see occurring due to bad technique.

The panel feel that it is more as the MRP are describing and indeed the ex-players who are sitting on the case. The incident is much more in the territory of foul play and we agree with the MRP’s view that it is a Grade F offence.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

Having agreed that the grading of the charge is correct at Grade F the Tribunal feel that a 6-match suspension is appropriate.

They have taken into account the players guilty plea and also his previous record over the course of his long career.

The player will also be fined £500.

Suspension:

6 matches