Sale prop banned for three weeks for striking

Sale prop Valery Morozov has paid a price for his red-carded foul play last weekend in France, the Russian getting banned for three weeks.

Morozov was sent off by referee Mike Adamson in the 65th minute of last Friday’s defeat at La Rochelle for striking Lopeti Timani with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.12.

An independent disciplinary committee consisting of chair Pamela Woodman (Scotland), Nigel Williams (Wales) and Val Toma (Romania) upheld the red card decision, finding that Morozov had made contact with Timani’s head in a dangerous manner. 

The panel determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.

Taking into account the considerable level of provocation by Timani prior to the incident, as well as the Sale player’s guilty plea and clear disciplinary record, the committee reduced the sanction by the maximum of 50 per cent before imposing a three-week suspension. 

Morozov is free to play again on February 10 after missing Sale’s final European game versus Glasgow, their Premiership visit to Exeter, and the Premiership Cup semi-final against Saracens.

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