FOUL PLAY REVIEW COMMITTEE NEWS RELEASE

Foul Play Review Committee: Adam Casselden SC (Chairman), Eroni Clarke and Stefan Terblanche
Player: Armand van der Merwe
Team: Sharks
Position: Hooker
Date of Incident: 30 March 2019
Nature of Offence: Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to punching or striking with the hand or arm.
Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 58min

SANZAAR NEWS RELEASE

Armand van der Merwe suspended for 3 weeks

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Armand van der Merwe of the Sharks for contravening Law 9.12: A player must not physically abuse anyone, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.

Van der Merwe has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks, up to and including 19 April 2019.

The incident occurred in the 58th minute of the match between the Sharks and Bulls played at Johnson Kings Park in Durban on 30 March 2019.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Adam Casselden SC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Eroni Clarke assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden SC ruled the following: 

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Attie Heyns, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.12." 
 
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level. The evidence demonstrated the Player contacted the opposing Player's head with multiple punches. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's good judicial record and the fact the Player has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks."

"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 19 April 2019.”

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.

is 3 weke nie bietjie lig vir herhaaldelike vuis slaan nie? Dink daai FS speler het 6 weke gekry vir spoeg op sy opponent?

Eish... Brits is 11 jaar ouer as Akker... Nie mooi om ooms te slaan nie....

Ek kan nie verstaan dat hy onskuldig pleit nie want hy het verseker 'n linkerhou gegooi wat Akker op die regterkant van die kop getref het, en retaliation is nie 'n verweer nie, so hy gaan (of behoort) skuldig bevind word, wat beteken dat sy straf swaarder as Akker sin behoort te wees omdat hy nie dadelik skuldig gepleit het nie. Akker het basies 3 weke af gekry van 6 weke omdat hy dadelik skuldig gepleit het, so Brits staan die gevaar om 6 weke te kry, -dalk 2 vir 'n goeie rekord

Waar is die goeie ou dae wat die manne mekaar n lekker paar klappe gee en die game gaan voort of as dit nou n mooi hou was gaan staan jy so 5min agter die pale.

I saw that article just now, sounds like he got a 4 week ban and the Bulls are taking it on appeal, so that is why there is another hearing tomorrow to hear the appeal.

Hulle kyk nie wie het eerste wat gedoen nie, hulle kyk wat jy self gedoen het. Vuisslaan begin by 6 weke , en dan kan jy weke afk kry as jy dadelik skuldig pleit en 'n goeie dissiplinere rekord het, so Akker het 3 weke af gekry. Brits het waarskynlik 'n swakker dissiplinere rekord omdat hy langer speel en dit verduidelik dalk die 2 weke wat hy af gekry het

Wat beteken 4 weke? Altwee gaan 3 games uit wees, is dit nie maar waaroor dit gaan nie?

Transvaal wrote: Brits se verhoor het blykbaar al 7 uur vanoggend begin en ek het nog niks gesien daaroor nie, so ek neem aan hulle stry lekker in die verhoor!

Lion4ever wrote: Leeubok, that comes with the team wanting to dominate physically. There are often off the ball niggles, and testosterone explosions. Youngsters that cannot control emotions. Unfortunately, for the Sharks, I think the coach is part of the problem.