Seven-Week Ban For Mafi
An Irish Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel held a hearing to consider a citing complaint against Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi from the Leinster v Munster Magners League game last Saturday.
Munster’s Lifeimi Mafi was cited under both law 10.4 (e) for an alleged dangerous tackle and law 10.4 (a) for allegedly punching or striking in the same incident with Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy in the 19th minute of the game.
The hearing took place in the Ulster Branch offices in Ravenhill, Belfast at 4pm today (Tuesday). The hearing was chaired by Hugh Logan and he was assisted by Stephen Hilditch and Ian McIlrath.
Having studied the match footage and heard all available evidence, the disciplinary panel found Mafi guilty under law 10.4 (e) for a dangerous tackle and decided that it was at the top end of entry for such an offence.
The panel took into account the player’s previous good disciplinary record before they imposed a sanction of seven weeks’ suspension, up to and including Sunday, November 21.
The ban rules Mafi out of Munster’s opening two Heineken Cup games against London Irish and Toulon, as well as their next three Magners League fixtures.
The player is free to appeal the decision.