ERC has received two citing complaints arising from the Bath Rugby v Stade Francais Paris Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, 6 April.

Citing - Jerome Fillol

ERC has received a citing complaint against the Stade Francais Paris scrum half, Jerome Fillol (No 9), following the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final match against Bath Rugby on Saturday, 6 April 2013.
Fillol is alleged to have committed an act contrary to good sportsmanship in that he spat at the Bath Rugby player, Peter Stringer (No 9), during the first half of the match at the Recreation Ground.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Eugene Ryan (Ireland).

Anthony Davis (England) has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer for the hearing which will take place in Dublin on Thursday, 11 April.

10.4(m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the enclosure.

Under the IRB Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4(m), spitting at a player carries the following sanction entry points: Low End: 4 weeks; Mid Range: 7 weeks; Top End: 11+ to 52 weeks

Citing - Rabah Slimani

ERC has received a Citing Complaint against the Stade Francais Paris prop, Rabah Slimani (No 3), following the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bath Rugby on Saturday, 6 April 2013.

Slimani is alleged to have tackled the Bath Rugby player, Nick Abendanon (No.14), while he was in the air during the first half of the match at the Recreation Ground. Slimani received a yellow card for this incident.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Eugene Ryan (Ireland).

Anthony Davis (England) has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer for the hearing which will take place in Dublin on Thursday, 11 April.

10.4(i) Tackling a player in the air: A player must not tackle, nor tap, push or pull the foot or feet of an opponent jumping for a ball in the lineout or in open play.

Under the IRB Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4(i) carries the following sanction entry points: Low End: 3 weeks; Mid Range: 6 weeks; Top End: 12+ to 52 weeks.

Notes

(i) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners are appointed by ERC for all Heineken Cup and all televised Amlin Challenge Cup matches and shall be entitled to cite a player for any act or acts of Foul Play that in the Citing Commissioner's opinion warranted a red card.
b) For such matches, clubs will not have the power to cite a player but may refer incidents to the Citing Commissioner within 26 hours of the start of the match.
c) The Citing Commissioner will have 50 hours from the start of the match to make a citing. In certain circumstances this deadline can be extended.
d) The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, may forward the submitted citing to a Citing Officer to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for the citing to progress.
e) The Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.

(ii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Judicial Officer is chosen by the chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
b) ERC’s Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, presents the case against the player.
c) If a citing complaint is upheld, the independent Judicial Officer will be required to consider the appropriate sanction. Under the IRB's sanctioning regime, which ERC is obliged to follow, the Judicial Officer will first assess the seriousness of the player's actions and determine which of the three stipulated entry points (lower end, mid range and top end) is the most appropriate.
d) The Judicial Officer will determine the appropriate entry point based on his/her assessment of a number of particular characteristics of the player's actions, including whether or not they were intentional, whether or not they caused any injuries and whether or not they had any effect on the relevant match.
e) After deciding the entry point, the Judicial Officer will then consider whether the suspension should be increased from the entry point to take account of certain specified aggravating factors, such as a poor disciplinary record or the need for deterrence, and/or decreased from the entry point to take account of certain specified mitigating actions, such as a guilty plea, a good disciplinary record, the player's conduct at the hearing and expressions of remorse.
d) A suspension is a blanket ban from playing rugby union anywhere in the world.
e) Both parties to the hearing (ERC and the player) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Hearing. Appeals must be lodged within three (3) working days of receiving the full written decision of the Judicial Officer.
f) The full written decision of the Judicial Officer will be available on www.ercrugby.com/disciplinenews when the disciplinary process is complete
g) For IRB Sanctions for Foul Play, found at Appendix 1 to IRB Regulation 17, please visit irb.com