Uruguay player Facundo Gattas’ appeal against the decision of a Judicial Committee to uphold his red card and suspend him for three matches arising from an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous high tackle) in Uruguay’s Rugby World Cup 2019 match against Georgia on 29 September, was heard in Tokyo on 4 October.
The independent Appeal Committee was chaired by chaired by Christopher Quinlan QC (Judicial Panel Chairman, England) with lawyer Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland).
The Appeal Committee dismissed the player’s appeal against his red card. It found that the Judicial Committee which heard the case at first instance was entitled on the evidence to find that the tackle had contacted Georgia’s Shalva Sutiashvili in the head and accordingly upheld the red card issued by referee Wayne Barnes.
The suspension remains as imposed by the Judicial Committee. Gattas will miss Uruguay’s final two pool matches and the quarter-final should Uruguay progress, or his next scheduled match with his club Hindú in Argentina on 19 October, 2019. The suspension will therefore end at midnight after the Rugby World Cup 2019 quarter-finals if Uruguay qualify or on 21 October if Uruguay do not qualify for the quarter-finals, after which he is free to resume playing.
The short form decision is here and the full written decision will be here when available.