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ESPN staff
Jordie Barrett is free to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship clash on the Gold Coast on Sunday after his red card for kicking Marika Koroibete was dismissed by a SANZAAR judiciary panel.
Barrett was sent off late in the first half of the All Blacks’ 38-21 win over the Wallabies in Perth when his right boot collected Koroibete in the face while he went up to catch a box kick from Tate McDermott.
Referee Damon Murphy and his assistants deemed the action warranted a red card, with Barrett sent from the field before he was able to be replaced under the 20-minute substitution law trial in place for the Rugby Championship.
Barrett then faced a SANZAAR judiciary hearing on Monday night, when it was ruled the accidental nature of the offence meant he should face no further sanction and have the red card scrubbed from his disciplinary record.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player, a medical report on the opposition player involved, and from two expert witnesses, and having considered the submissions from his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, the Judicial Committee found that the Player had not transgressed Rule 9.11 and had therefore not committed an act of foul play,” a SANZAAR statement read.
“He legitimately went up in the air to collect a high ball, when in trying to regain his balance on the downward trajectory, his boot inadvertently made contact with his opponent’s head. The accidental nature of the incident lead the Judicial Committee to find that there was no intentional nor reckless act of dangerous play, with the result that the Red Card is expunged from the player’s record.
“The player is therefore free to play in the upcoming matches.”
The decision means Barrett is free to face the Pumas as the Rugby Championship prepares for the first of four double-headers to be played across Queensland over the coming weeks.