Sharks player Jean Deysel has been suspended for three weeks after he pleaded guilty to stamping Jordan Taufua’s head.
Deysel will be banned up to and including Saturday the 7th of June 2014. However, he will actually only miss two Sharks matches due to the June test series.
Deysel’s suspension was reduced due to the fact that he:
– Apologised after the match and Taufua accepted his apology
– He is a senior player with an exceptionally good record (despite a yellow card for holding Waratahs player Tom Carter around the neck in a ruck in 2011)
– He pleaded guilty and showed genuine remorse for his actions
Judicial Hearing Chairman Jannie Lubbe ruled that
Jean Deysel of the Sharks tackled Jordan Taufua of the Crusaders near the Sharks’ goal line after Taufua illegally held on to the foot of Deysel, preventing him from joining the line of defense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAYB8vGFQHY
In order to free himself, Deysel stamped with his boot on Taufua and made contact with the neck/head area of the player. Taufua sustained a minor injury to his mouth but was able to complete the match and subsequently provided helpful testimony that supported the medical evidence.
The entry level of the offence was categorised as mid-level which carries a five week suspension after applying section 9.5 of Appendix 1 of the SANZAR Disciplinary Rules; mainly because of the use of a boot in the head/face area of a player in a vulnerable position on the ground.
Stamping is a serious offence. It is an offence that cannot be tolerated in the game because not only is it totally against the spirit of the game, but it carries an inherent potential danger of serious injury to players, especially when contact is made in the head/face area.
Sharks coach Jake White maintains that Deysel is not a dirty player.
“He’s not a dirty guy, he’s got an unbelievable record. He’s a tough man carries the ball hard but I think he’s as remorseful in the changing room as I would expect any player to be. It’s not him.”
James Slipper also received a three week ban earlier this month for a lifting tackle in the Reds match against the Blues. In 2012 Digby Ioane was suspended for 5 weeks for a lifting tackle on Sharks player Marcell Coetzee.
Does this all add up?
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