SCARLETS CENTRE KIERON Fonotia is the latest player to face the consequences of leading into a tackle with his forearm/elbow.
The Samoan international was handed a three-week suspension at a disciplinary hearing today based on an incident during Scarlets’ win over the Ospreys last weekend.
Fonotia was not penalised for the offence during the game at Parc y Scarlets but was later cited and the disciplinary committee at today’s hearing has banned him for three weeks.
The committee felt Fonotia’s actions merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks, but that was reduced to three based on his “clean disciplinary record, his admission that his actions warranted a red card and the cooperation of both the player and his club.”
The incident in question can be seen below, with Fonotia appearing to lead into a tackle attempt from the Ospreys’ George North with his elbow.
Click here if you cannot view the clip above
This nature of this incident, as well as the subsequent ban, should be familiar to Leinster fans after Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman was red carded at the RDS for something very similar.
Schoeman was suspended for four weeks following that offence – six reduced to four due to “mitigating circumstances, the player’s acceptance of the red card and behaviour throughout the hearing.”
The incident involving Schoeman can be seen below.
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Dan Leavy was forced off the pitch with concussion due to Schoeman’s leading elbow/forearm, underlining exactly why this is such a hot area for referees at present.
North required a HIA after the incident involving Fonotia and while he did thankfully return to the pitch and complete the game, the danger is clear.
Going back to round two of the Guinness Pro14, there was a yellow card for Benetton’s Robert Barbieri for leading with the forearm/elbow.
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