Case Number:

ON/1303/24

Christopher Ball #3, London Broncos

Competition:

Reserves

Match:

Hull KR v London Broncos

Match Date:

2024-07-27

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

Head Contact

Grade E

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 1st August 2024, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(b) during the above match.?
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The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 59 50 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted the head and neck of your opponent. The Panel believe your actions were serious misconduct and against the spirit of the game.
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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 match referee sin binned the player following the incident.
• The report stated that “Hull KR were playing the ball out to the wing through the hands. Chris attempts to shut the play down by tackling the Hull player as he attempts to pass the ball. He gets this tackle wrong and makes forceful and dangerous contact with the head area. I downgraded to a yellow because on field I thought he had mitigation, and the Hull player was losing height rapidly just before contact was made.”
• The MRP state that the footage clearly shows Mr Ball making contact with his shoulder to the head of his opponent.
• The incident led to the ball carrier leaving the field of play and not returning. Subsequent information confirms that the opponent failed his Head Injury Assessment.
• 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 disagreed with the referees position in respect of mitigation and 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 to avoid the ball carrier’s head.
- The trajectory of the tackler’s shoulder/arm is always going towards the ball carrier’s head.
- Ball carrier fails HIA.
• The Match Review Panel believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this to a Grade E charge.

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

Player in attendance alongside Kieran Robertson (Head Coach). Player pleads guilty.

CB talked through the incident. He felt that the opponent lost height before contact which contributed to the way that contact was made and how the tackle ended.

He added that he had no previous disciplinary record and had never even been sin-binned before.

KR added that CB was of good character and confirmed he had an exemplary previous record. The incident happened at speed and CB had no opportunity to pull out of contact.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal have listened to the submissions from both the MRP and the club and player. They have also watched the forage several times.

They are of the opinion that this is a bad tackle and one which could have potentially been graded higher at Grade F.

They note the players plea of guilt and also his previous disciplinary record.

The Tribunal agree that the suspension should be at the top of the grade and therefore suspend the player for five matches. He will also be fined £75.

The are happy that the player can use games at a community level to serve his suspension.

Suspension:

5 matches