Kremer banned for 'recklessly making forceful, direct contact'

Argentina back-rower Marcos Kremer has been banned following his red card during last Saturday’s defeat away to Scotland. He was sent off with just 22 minutes of the BT Murrayfield game played and his team fell away afterwards to lose 52-29 to an opposition they had defeated 2-1 in last July’s Test series in the southern hemisphere.

With the Argentina tour now over, Kremer will miss the next four Stade Francais matches. An Autumn Nations Series statement read: “Argentina back row Marcos Kremer appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to law 9.11 in the international match against Scotland on November 19.

“The independent disciplinary committee chaired by Simon Thomas (Wales), joined by former international Leon Lloyd (England) and former international referee Valeriu Toma (Romania), considered all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative.

“The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed that the player had illegally charged into Scotland No7 (Jamie Ritchie) at a ruck, recklessly making forceful, direct contact with his arm to Ritchie’s head.

“On that basis, the committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six-week suspension.

“Having acknowledged mitigating factors including the player’s remorse, admission of guilt, good conduct and timely apology to Jamie Ritchie, the committee reduced the six-week entry point by two weeks, resulting in a sanction of four weeks. The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision.”

Kremer’s four-game ban:

1. Stade Francais vs Toulon, November 26;

2. Stade Francais vs La Rochelle, December 3;

3. Stade Francais vs Benetton, December 9;

4. Lions vs Stade Francais, December 16.