Case Number:

ON/1648/24

Matty Lees #10, St Helens

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Warrington Wolves v St Helens

Match Date:

2024-09-07

Incident:

Contact with Match Official

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Deliberate or reckless physical contact with a match official

Grade B

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 9th September 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 02 02 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have made reckless contact with the referee. In the Panel’s opinion they believed your actions to be 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 B offence – Deliberate or reckless physical contact with a match official

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a fine to a 1-Match suspension.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in the above match.

• The referee Chris Kendall can be seen to blow for a penalty following a high tackle.

• Mr Lees can be seen to run at speed towards the incident and Mr Kendall comes into prevent a barrier to Mr Lees coming forward.

• Mr Lees, The Match Review Panel accept begins to slow down and steady off prior to coming over to the incident.

• However, the Match Review Panel submit that Mr Lees continues to move into the incident paying no attention to the referee and contacts the referee forcefully enough that Mr Kendall must move backwards.

• The Match Review Panel submit that there is no need to contact referee as Mr Lees can see is always there.

• Player demonstrates no duty of care and there is the potential to cause injury.

• Contact with Match Officials is serious misconduct as Officials have the right to feel safe when they enter the field of play

• Grade B due to:
- Reckless contact and unnecessary contact
- Brings the game into disrepute
- Potential for injury. Referee is vulnerable.
- The game must be seen to protect Match Officials

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

Player in attendance alongside Mike Rush (CEO) and Paul Wellens (Head Coach). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

MR explained that after discussions with the MRP Chair the club were informed the decision to bring the charge was 2/1 split.

Whilst the club agree that ML runs in, he was not doing so looking to make contact with the Referee, he was running in to protect a teammate. The club do not blame the Referee; however, they feel he put himself in a vulnerable position.

ML was not being aggressive and was not verbally aggressive towards the Referee either. This was not deliberate contact, this was carless rather than reckless. The Referee was not in any danger and ML did not enter flailing his arms about.

The incident occurred in just the second minute of a game which had already seen three previous penalties awarded.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

It appears to be accepted that the situation was an unusual in that the Referee Mr Kendall was in a somewhat unexpected position when contact with him was made.

There is no suggestion that Mr Lees was seeking to do anything other than approach the incident itself and had no intention on contacting the Referee.

It is clear that having seen the Referee he recognised the risk that there would be a collision and as a result he did try to take evasive action by slowing down.

Whilst it was not sufficient to avoid a collision, it was in the Tribunal’s view, an act which renders his actions careless rather than reckless.

Accordingly, the Tribunal feel the appropriate grade should be Grade A. This therefore mean Mr Lees will be fined £250.