Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini has been suspended for 15 weeks after acknowledging that he had been guilty of contact with the eye area of Ireland prop Cian Healy during the final Pool C match at Otago Stadium on Sunday.
English citing commissioner Peter Larter brought the charge after reviewing broadcast footage of the incident, which took place in the 22nd minute of Ireland’s 36-6 victory. Healy brought it to the attention of South African referee Jonathan Kaplan but no action was taken at the time.
Ghiraldini was cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 10(4)(m) acts contrary to good sportsmanship; in this case, for contact with the eye or the eye area of an Irish player. The player admitted a breach of Law 10.4(m), but denied his actions were deliberate.
Independent judicial officer Bruce Squire QC of New Zealand handed down the suspension to Ghiraldini in accordance with the Rugby World Cup 2011 disciplinary process.
Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence available, including all broadcast angles and additional evidence from both players, Squire found the contact with the eyes of Healy to be a deliberate act on the part of Ghiraldini and categorised it as top end offending which has an entry point of 24 weeks suspension.
Squire also took the view there should be an increase on the suspension period prescribed by the entry point for deterrent purposes, noting that increased penalties had not been reflected in any significant reduction in offending of this kind.
However, taking into account particular aspects of the offending in this case and a range of mitigating factors, principally Ghiraldini’s previously unblemished record, Squire reduced the period of suspension to 15 weeks.
The Bennetton Treviso player is suspended from all rugby up to and including January 17th, 2012 and has 48 hours in which to appeal.