If anyone caught the Reds v Rebels game this weekend you would have seen a controversial red card.
At approximately 78 minutes with the game tied at 27 all, a ruck forms deep in the Reds half. The ball is recycled by the Rebels and a few phases ensue. In the background there is a scuffle between Ed O'Donaghue(Reds) and Scott Higginbotham(Rebels). Referee Steve Walsh penalizes another Rebels player for joining in and escalating the scuffle.
The Reds kick deep into the Rebels half and have the throw in at the lineout. Just as the ball is about to be thrown in, a replay of the scuffle is shown on the big screen, and the TMO contacts ref Steve Walsh to report foul play.
After a couple minutes of confusion the TMO states that the Reds player eye gouged the Rebels player. It is clear that Steve Walsh doesn't want anything to do with making this call but he has now been put in an odd spot because the TMO spoke up. Walsh then red cards the Red's player for eye gouging and reverses his penalty from two phases back. The Rebels have a penalty right in front of the posts and opt to go for a penalty goal which wins them the game.
To complicate things further, the replay shows what could be what initially looks like a headbutt from the Rebels player before the eye gouging. In a post match judiciary meeting the Reds player was absolved of any eye gouging.
Reds Captain James Horwill was fuming and didn't hold back in his post match comments calling the situation a "stupid refereeing call".
For me, the hands in the eyes do look dangerous, as does the headbutt. The controversial part is the TMO speaking up and having to go back several phases.
This video shows the incident but not the referee confusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5A7zWbkxas
At approximately 78 minutes with the game tied at 27 all, a ruck forms deep in the Reds half. The ball is recycled by the Rebels and a few phases ensue. In the background there is a scuffle between Ed O'Donaghue(Reds) and Scott Higginbotham(Rebels). Referee Steve Walsh penalizes another Rebels player for joining in and escalating the scuffle.
The Reds kick deep into the Rebels half and have the throw in at the lineout. Just as the ball is about to be thrown in, a replay of the scuffle is shown on the big screen, and the TMO contacts ref Steve Walsh to report foul play.
After a couple minutes of confusion the TMO states that the Reds player eye gouged the Rebels player. It is clear that Steve Walsh doesn't want anything to do with making this call but he has now been put in an odd spot because the TMO spoke up. Walsh then red cards the Red's player for eye gouging and reverses his penalty from two phases back. The Rebels have a penalty right in front of the posts and opt to go for a penalty goal which wins them the game.
To complicate things further, the replay shows what could be what initially looks like a headbutt from the Rebels player before the eye gouging. In a post match judiciary meeting the Reds player was absolved of any eye gouging.
Reds Captain James Horwill was fuming and didn't hold back in his post match comments calling the situation a "stupid refereeing call".
For me, the hands in the eyes do look dangerous, as does the headbutt. The controversial part is the TMO speaking up and having to go back several phases.
This video shows the incident but not the referee confusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5A7zWbkxas