Argentinean star backrow Marcos Kremer has been handed a four-week ban following his direct contact with Scottish captain Jamie Ritchie’s head in their Autumn Nations Series clash.
The Autumn Nations Series organisers released a statement on the ban which read as follows.
“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.”
The incident itself was rather ugly as Kremer clearly got his technique wrong as he entered the ruck with severe force.
His ban is in line with that handed down to Springbok backrow Pieter-Steph Du Toit who received a three week ban following his red card against France the week prior.
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