CONNACHT FLANKER MIKE McCarthy faces two weeks on the sidelines after his ERC disciplinary hearing today.
McCarthy was sin-binned on Saturday night for a high tackle on Vincent Clerc as Toulouse ran out comfortable winners at the Sportsground.
But he faced a citing committee today in Dublin for the challenge in contravention of Law 10.4 (e) – “dangerous tackling of an opponent including a tackle or an attempted tackle above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders”.
During the hearing, McCarthy accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but he disputed that it warranted a red card.
The independent judicial officer, Roger Morris heard submissions from the player; his solicitor, Donal Spring; Connacht team manager, Tim Allnutt and from ERC disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor.
An ERC statement reads:
“The independent Judicial Officer upheld the citing complaint and having considered the evidence available, determined that the act was in the low-end of the level of seriousness for an offence of this type, with an entry point of two weeks.
“After considering the player’s disciplinary record the Judicial Officer added one week to the entry level, and deducted one week in mitigation due to the player’s guilty plea and conduct during the hearing, with the player receiving a suspension of two weeks. McCarthy will be available to play on Thursday, 8 December 2011.”
The player can appeal the ban.
