Gibson-Park cited for yellow-carded clash with Marmion

European rugby officials have arranged six disciplinary hearings following last weekend's Champions and Challenge Cup action - four for red cards with the other two covering citing complaints, including an investigation into the hotly debated yellow card given to Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park in Galway.  

Numerous commentators felt that the Ireland half-back should have been red-carded for the incident that happened when he tackled Kieran Marmion during last Friday's win for Leinster away to Connacht in the Champions Cup round-of-16. 

Gibson-Park was instead only yellow carded for the 56th-minute collision in the first-leg match that Leinster won 26-21, but his availability for this Friday's return match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin is now in jeopardy following a complaint by match citing commissioner Maurizio Vancini.

Stade Francais' Tolu Latu, Leicester's Guy Porter and Toulouse's Juan Cruz Mallia all have red card cases to answer in the Champions Cup while the Challenge Cup hearings will cover the red card shown to Brive's Alex Muller and a citing for Edinburgh's WP Nel. Here is the full list of hearings.  

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

Red card – Tolu Latu (Stade Français Paris)

The Stade Francais Paris replacement hooker, Tolu Latu (No16), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 first leg match against Racing 92 at Stade Jean Bouin on Saturday.

Latu was sent off by the referee, Luke Pearce (England), in the 67th minute of the match for making contact with the Racing 92 second row, Baptiste Chouzenoux (No4), in the air in a dangerous manner in contravention of law 9.17. Jennifer Donovan (Ireland, chair), Mitchell Read (England) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) were appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which took place by video conference earlier today [Tuesday].

The committee upheld the red decision, finding that Latu had committed an intentional act of foul play that warranted a red card. It then determined that the offending was at the top end of World Rugby’s sanctions and twelve weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. The committee decided to reduce the sanction by two weeks given the player’s guilty plea and apology, and it also decided to add one week to the sanction due to the player’s poor disciplinary record before imposing an eleven-week suspension.

Red card – Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)

The Leicester Tigers centre, Guy Porter (No13), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 first leg match against ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday.

Porter was sent off by the referee, Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), in the 60th minute of the match for making contact with the head of Clermont No8 Fritz Lee in a reckless manner in contravention of law 9.11. The hearing will take place by video conference tomorrow [Wednesday] and the appointments for an independent disciplinary committee remain to be confirmed.

Red card – Juan Cruz Mallia (Stade Toulousain)

The Stade Toulousain wing, Juan Cruz Mallia (No14), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 first leg match against Ulster at Le Stadium on Saturday. Mallia was sent off by the referee, Wayne Barnes (England), in the eleventh minute of the match for making contact with the Ulster wing, Ben Moxham (No11), in the air in a dangerous manner in contravention of law 9.17. Details of the hearing will be communicated at a later date.

Citing complaint – Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Leinster replacement scrum-half, Jamison Gibson-Park (No21), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 first leg match against Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday.

Gibson-Park is alleged to have tackled the Connacht scrum-half, Kieran Marmion (No9), in a dangerous manner in the 56th minute of the match in contravention of law 9.13. Philippe Cavalieros (France, chair), Yannick Jauzion (France) and Mitchell Read (England) have been appointed as the independent disciplinary committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening [Tuesday]. The complaint was made by the match citing commissioner, Maurizio Vancini (Italy).

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Red card – Alex Muller (CA Brive)

The CA Brive fullback, Alex Muller (No15), was issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup round five match against Saracens at Stade Amédée Domenech on Friday. Muller was sent off by the referee, Mike Adamson (Scotland), in the 71st minute of the match for tackling the Saracens replacement wing, Ben Harris (No23), in a dangerous manner in contravention of law 9.13. Details of the hearing will be communicated at a later date.

Citing complaint – WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Edinburgh replacement prop, WP Nel (No18), arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup round five match against Section Paloise at the DAM Health Stadium on Friday. Nel is alleged to have struck the head of the Section Paloise prop, Téo Bordenave (No1), in a dangerous manner in the 42nd minute of the match in contravention of law 9.12.

Simon Thomas (Wales, chair), Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Martyn Wood (England) have been appointed as the independent disciplinary committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow [Wednesday]. The complaint was made by the match citing commissioner, Dana Teagarden (Germany).