Case Number:

ON/237/22

Luke Gale #7, Hull FC

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Hull FC v St Helens

Match Date:

2022-02-19

Incident:

Lifts injured player at 34:00

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1(i)

Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game (includes Dangerous Contact) – Other contrary behaviour

Grade C

Fine:

N/A

Sanctions:

3 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenge the grading

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 21st February 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at approximately Opta time 34:00 of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you attempted to move an injured player. The Panel believed that your actions had the potential to cause your opponent injury and were against the true spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade C offence – Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game (includes Dangerous Contact) – Other contrary behaviour.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from 2 to 3 matches.

• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Gale makes contact with his opponent.
• The opponent Mr Lomax comes away from an incident (high boot) which Mr Gale is involved in with the opponent appearing to suffer an injury.
• Mr Lomax takes himself to the floor.
• Mr Gale can see that his opponent is in distress and visibly injured
• Player then grabs the shirt and scrum cap of his opponent and can be seen to be gesticulating in an aggressive manner.
• The player is aware or ought to be aware that the opponent is injured - as he was the person directly involved in the above incident.
• It is not for any player in any circumstances to have physical contact with a player who may be injured. Injured players need treatment from appropriately trained medical staff to ensure that any injury is appropriately managed in the initial stages and is not made worse
• Whether a player is in fact injured, and if so to what extent, is exclusively a matter for the assessment of the medical staff in conjunction with any necessary match official input.
• Contact, of whatever type/force, from another player upon a seemingly injured player has the potential for serious medical consequences for that injured player.
• In very limited circumstances a player may render immediate physical assistance to another player who is obviously seriously injured. This is clearly not the case here. Mr Gale is in no way attempting to assist the injured player. His actions are carried out in a purely negative manner and for his own personal gain.
• Mr Gale is aware from the incident that he has made contact with his opponent’s leg with a strong enough degree of force to cause (serious) injury and there is an obvious risk that pulling the player up and destabilising him in that manner has the potential to cause further injury to the opponent’s leg.
• The incident was not part of play.
• Physio is already on scene to treat the injured player and has to physically come between Mr Gale and his opponent.
• This offence carries a possible Grading from A to F. In this particular case the MRP felt that the degree of force used, the fact that the opponent was already clearly injured with the potential for further injury, the complete disregard for the opponent’s welfare and the negative and derogatory manner in which Mr Gale acted – contrary to the true spirit of the game with such actions having no place on the Rugby League field of play.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

LG in attendance alongside James Clark (CEO) and Gordon Sewell (Legal Rep) and pleads guilty.

JC informed the Tribunal that LG didn’t realise this was misconduct but would obviously be aware of it going forward. The club feel that the opponent was not suffering from a serious injury and LG had approached the opponent to apologise. He explained he had offered his hand to help the opponent up and also got hold of the back of his shirt to help lift him back to his feet.

They feel that this wasn’t against the spirit of the game, indeed helping his opponent in this way was “in the spirit of the game.”

The club felt that the opponent was already trying to regain his feet and that LG was helping a friend to get up. It was not an aggressive grab of the shirt and that he did not grab the scrum cap as had been suggested. He offered his hand to support the opponent to in getting up and was utilising his shirt to lift him, there was no pull.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Graded C due to;
- Unnecessary contact
- Aggressive actions
- Force in the grab and pulls at both shirt and scrum cap of opponent
- Requirement of medical personnel to become physically involved
- Duty of care owed to opponent
- Players who are potentially injured in any way are not to be moved by opponents

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The club feel that player was trying to help his opponent get back to his feet. The player was not aggressive in his actions.

Aggravating Factors:

03/08/21 – Contact with a MO (Grade A – 1 match)
28/06/21 – Punching (Grade C – 2 matches)
18/08/20 – Dangerous Throw (Grade A – 0 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal do not feel that the actions of the player were malicious, although, they do feel that it has been correctly graded at Grade C.

However, they agree that they can go outside of the grading in this instance as the case has been dealt with as part of the previous charge (ON/236/22).

The player has no idea of the severity of any injury to his opponent and while not malicious it was foolish of him to become involved with his opponent.

Given the Tribunal agreed to provide one sanction for both incidents given that they occur within the same overall incident, the Tribunal believe that an overall sanction of 5 matches should be imposed for both offences.

Suspension:

5 matches