Bundee Aki handed lengthy ban for verbal abuse of match official
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Banned.
Bundee Aki has been handed a lengthy ban after appearing before a disciplinary committee today following alleged verbal abuse of a match official.
Aki has been handed a four-game ban for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards the match officials following Connacht’s defeat to Leinster over the weekend.
The independent disciplinary committee found that Aki had “engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions.”
The 35-year-old centre was initially handed a six-game ban, however two of those games were suspended, meaning he will miss Connacht’s game this weekend, as well as the opening three rounds of the Six Nations.
Aki was dropped by Ireland earlier today, but he is available for the final two games of the Six Nations at home to Wales and Scotland, should Andy Farrell decide to recall him.
“The misconduct charges arose from the Round 10 BKT United Rugby Championship fixture on Saturday, January 24 at Dexcom Stadium, Galway,” a URC statement read.
“After considering all of the submissions, the Independent Committee deemed that the Player engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions in a manner which breached the Disciplinary Rules.
“The Independent Committee concluded that the Player’s behaviour constituted verbal abuse and disrespect of a Match Official(s) under the relevant Rules. In determining its sanction, the Independent Committee felt that a suspension of six (6) weeks was appropriate, with two of those weeks suspended.
“The Committee also recognised the Player’s full regret for his actions and was grateful for the approach that he took towards the proceedings. However, given the player’s previous disciplinary record (including incidents of a similar nature) and his lack of a plea in this case, the Independent Committee could not apply mitigation to the sanction.”
