Sanzaar: De Allende didn’t deserve red

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Damian de Allende has received no further sanction for his late tackle on Lima Sopoaga that resulted in a red card.

The replacement Bok centre was sent off by French referee Jérôme Garcès in the 76th minute of the match between the Springboks and All Blacks at Newlands.4

The Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee found that the offence did not warrant a red card in all the circumstances and has issued a warning.

Chairman Nigel Hampton, Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.

‘Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles, as well as submissions from his legal representative, Attie Heyns, the Foul Play Review Committee found that, on an objective study, and with more time and video angles than the referee had available to him, the act of foul play committed only came close to warranting a red card, and therefore a warning (equivalent to a yellow card) was issued instead.

‘The charge was late and the player had time to pull out before colliding with his opponent. However, the collision was not affected with a great deal of force, with the initial contact being made with the player’s forearm on the opponent’s chest, from whence the arm rose up to make contact, again not forceful, on to the opponent’s neck. The opponent was not injured.

‘The player is therefore free to play and will serve no suspension.’

On Saturday night, Sopoago tweeted that there had been ‘no malice’ from De Allende, after the Bok centre apologised to him on Twitter.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

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Mariette Adams