European Cup: Fears that Irish second row Paul O'Connell would not be available for Munster in their Heineken European Cup quarter-final match against Biarritz on April 3rd were allayed yesterday when the lock was given a two week suspension that ends on the morning of the fixture.
The suspension will run from Saturday, March 19th until Saturday April 2nd which allows him to travel with the team to the eagerly anticipated clash at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian.
O'Connell was cited following a punch-up with Welsh second row, Robert Sidoli, late in the second half of Ireland's final Six Nations Championship match last Saturday in Cardiff.
Accompanied to yesterday morning's London hearing by Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan and IRFU legal representative, Brian McLoughlin, O'Connell appeared before a three-man disciplinary committee that later released a brief statement.
"At a Disciplinary Hearing held at Heathrow, London, a three-man Independent Disciplinary Committee comprised of Lorne Crerar (Scotland, Chairman), Jeff Probyn and Bob Taylor (both England) heard the citation against Irish lock Paul O'Connell," said the statement.
"The player was found guilty of punching in the RBS Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, March 19th and banned for two weeks. He is free to resume playing on Sunday, April 3rd."
The original complaint against O'Connell, a vital player for Munster if their hopes of advancing to the semi-final stage of the European Cup are to be realised, was received from the independent Citing Commissioner Paul Mauriac (France).
But both player and coach are satisfied with the outcome. "The two-week suspension Paul received I believe is a fair outcome in terms of what took place during the incident. It was a fair hearing and both he and I are happy that justice has been done," said O'Sullivan.
O'Connell added: "I am both relieved and happy that the process is now over and the hearing that I received was fair in its decision".
The scuffle was clearly seen on television, although, what initially sparked it off was not made clear.
Afterwards English referee, Chris White, spoke to both players. They then shook hands and continued with the game. That chain of events was confirmed by O'Connell earlier this week.
"While the incident may have looked a little ugly, there was no malice or wilful intent involved on my part. Robert Sidoli and the referee accepted this in good spirits and once we shook hands, we both got on with it," he said.
The Irish coach also played down the incident and defended O'Connell's character.
"I have spoken with Paul and I accept the interpretation that it was more of a frustrating and harmless scrap with no intent to hurt or injure on his part. Knowing Paul and his reputation, I accept that explanation for something that we all know would be out of character," said the Irish coach.
Following the Irishman's hearing the citation against Salvatore Perugini of Italy was heard by the same committee but not upheld. It was found that the incident for which he had been cited (a swinging arm that left French winger, Christophe Dominici, unconscious for three minutes) in the Six Nations match against France at Stadio Flaminio was reckless rather than a deliberate attack on the player.
Perugini is free to continue playing with immediate effect.
