Disciplinary CC Quarter Final

[josie andrews]

RFL tribunal come to decision as Hull FC and Josh Griffin learn fate

Josh Griffin raced an RFL tribunal hearing on Tuesday night.

Josh Griffin has been found guilty of questioning the integrity of match official Chris Kendall at an RFL tribunal this Tuesday night. The Hull FC back rower was handed a Grade F charge on Monday for the incident, which saw him first sin-binned and then sent off in the club's Challenge Cup defeat to St Helens last Saturday afternoon.

Hull FC are understood to have fought Griffin's case, challenging the grading in an effort to get the length of the ban reduced. However, that plea was unsuccessful, with the grading found to be correct and Griffin handed a SEVEN-game ban.

Griffin has also been fined £1,000 for the incident, a month after receiving a Grade A charge and £250 fine for a similar offence in the previous cup round at Castleford.

The suspension will see Griffin out of action for over two months. He will miss Hull FC's Super League games against St Helens, Catalans, Hull KR, Castleford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, and Wigan. The 33-year-old will be free to return to action against Warrington on Saturday 26 August in round 23.

However, there could be a loophole in there that will allow Griffin to return at Wigan the week before. Hull have a Reserves match against Castleford Tigers scheduled on the weekend of the Challenge Cup semi-final that could count towards the ban. We've approached the club about that possibility.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8537430

[josie andrews]

However, there could be a loophole in there that will allow Griffin to return at Wigan the week before. Hull have a Reserves match against Castleford Tigers scheduled on the weekend of the Challenge Cup semi-final that could count towards the ban. We've approached the club about that possibility.

Naturally it would be for our match

[eaststandspy]

A seven game ban for asking the referee who is second favourite team is. Harsh!

[morley pie eater]

Actus reus And men's rea was intended not what my predictive tablet churned out

Either way doesn't help me at all, Archie. Keep taking the pills ("predictive tablets").

[josie andrews]

Josh Griffin and Chris Kendall versions differ as RFL release tribunal minutes

The RFL have released the minutes from Josh Griffin's tribunal.

The RFL have released the minutes from Josh Griffin's independent tribunal hearing on Tuesday night. The Hull FC back rower was found guilty of questioning the integrity of referee Chris Kendall and suspended for seven games following his red card in Saturday's Challenge Cup defeat to St Helens.

Summary

Detailing a differing version of events from both Kendall and Griffin, the former accused the latter of calling him a "F------- cheat" after a yellow card was given. That upgraded the outcome to a red card after Griffin had already said "F------ bull-s---" and "You're f------ s---."

Griffin differs in his version of what he said, but he admitted verbal abuse to the match official. The 33-year-old's account, read by club CEO James Clark, said Griffin admitted saying "F------ s--- call." That brought the yellow card out from Kendall, to which Griffin then added, "F--- sake, can’t talk to the arrogant p----." Kendall then issued the red card.

The two versions are key in their differences being that Griffin believes he doesn't question the referee's integrity, but the tribunal sided with Kendall, suggesting there was no reason not to believe the official given his account and the video footage available. There was no mention of the referee's mic or audio, nor the touch judge.

The main difference is of the words that upped Griffin's card from a yellow to a red. Kendall's account is that Griffin said: "F------- cheat" whereas Griffin believes he said: "F--- sake, can’t talk to the arrogant p----." Hull's argument was that there was insufficient evidence to say Griffin called Kendall a 'cheat' - the word which meant the grading and punishment was so high. That was their basis to get the charge and suspension lowered, but they were unsuccessful.

Kendall's full match report was as follows: "Just before half-time, I blew a penalty against Hull FC for a ball steal. Josh Griffin was unhappy with the decision and verbally challenged the call. I told him it was a ball steal, and he muttered something as he turned and ran back towards his own team. I was unsure what exactly he had said, so I decided to leave it alone and not advance the mark.

"Shortly after this, the half-time hooter went, and I blew to call time on the first half. Josh Griffin came over and was continuing to argue and gesticulate about the ball steal decision. I told him it was a clear ball steal, and after arguing for a short time, he said 'F------ b---s---' as he walked away from myself.

"I raised my yellow card to Josh Griffin. He then said 'You're f------ s---.' He began to head towards the tunnel when he then turned back towards myself and said 'F------- cheat.' I then upgraded the card from yellow to red."

The panel told Griffin his actions were 'unnecessary and 'against the true spirit of the game.' The grading was challenged by Hull, but the overall verdict was that the grading was correct and the Grade F with a suspension range of six matches plus would stand.

The panel listed the following points:

• The Match Review Panel were concerned at the behaviour of Mr Griffin.
• Mr Griffin was firstly sin binned and then red carded following the incident.
• The Match Review Panel see no reason to disbelieve the referee.
• The footage supports that there is clear interaction between both Mr Kendall and Mr Griffin, and this is initiated by the player.
• Mr Kendall is clear that he says he witnesses Mr Griffin state these words.
• This amounts to abusive behaviour towards the referee and questioning his integrity.
• The Panel believed that Mr Griffin’s actions were unnecessary, against the true spirit of the game and brings the game into disrepute.
• Under 1.2 of the On Field Sentencing Guidelines it states that the disciplinary system must support and protect Match Officials.
• Mr Griffin’s standards have fallen below what is expected of a player and amount to misconduct.

Josh Griffin's version

The minutes then went on to document Griffin's version of events, which were defended by James Clark with witness statements from teammates Adam Swift and Davy Litten.

A statement read: "Player in attendance alongside James Clark (JC, Hull FC CEO). Player pleads guilty to using offensive language towards the referee but not questioning his integrity.

"Both the Compliance Manager and JC were invited to cross-examine Chris Kendall (referee) who joined the hearing as a witness. Adam Swift and Davy Litten were also called to give evidence.

"JG did not deny exchanging words with CK; however, he was adamant that the words that he had been charged with using were not correct.

"JG explained he approached CK after the half-time hooter had gone to speak to him about a penalty that had just been given for a ball steal, saying 'Sir, how can you give that as a ball steal?'

"He then admitted to saying, 'F------ s--- call,' and walked away towards the changing rooms. He was then called back by CK and shown a yellow card. Annoyed by the situation, he walked away and, as doing so, said, 'F--- sake, can’t talk to the arrogant prick.'

"CK then called out to him again and gave him a red card. JG walked off and said, "F--- that" as he was frustrated with himself.

"JC explained it was the final year of JG’s contract, and the consequences of the charge were very high. He believed that there was not enough evidence to prove that CK was called a 'cheat.'

"JG told the tribunal he was embarrassed by the charge and it was something he had to live with. It was an intense game and could be his last chance to win the Challenge Cup. There was a lot of raw emotion, and he also felt he had let his teammates down. He had faced criticism following the incident and was remorseful for how things had turned out. He felt that his emotions had clouded his judgement."

Tribunal verdict

After listening to the two accounts, the panel came to a guilty verdict, labelling Kendall a credible witness and Griffin not. They concluded that Griffin had time to calm down after first complaining about the ball steal before the exchanges after the half-time whistle that saw him sin-binned and then sent off, with his words 'bringing the game into disrepute.'

In a closing statement, the panel said: "This is a very serious incident, and they adopt the seriousness of events as put forward by the Compliance Manager. The referee proved to be a credible witness when questioned and he was sure the words were said by the player. The tribunal deemed JG not to be a credible witness.

"JC said he respected the tribunal’s decision. He added that JG was out of contract at the end of the season and with just 12 games remaining a suspension as large as has been suggested by the Compliance Manager would not leave much of the season remaining.


"JC felt that a lower suspension would be more appropriate and also asked if the tribunal would consider going outside the grading in this instance."

The following sanctions were made:

Continuous foul abusive behaviour towards a Referee
• Comments abusive of performance and questions integrity
• Comments not made in the heat of the moment as the penalty was given before the half-time hooter and the player had time to calm down
• A breach of the RESPECT Policy
• Brings the game into disrepute
• Potential to affect the recruitment and retention of referees in the sport

Finally, the tribunal said they took into account Griffin's similar offence at Castleford last month. The player was sin-binned for dissent towards Liam Moore, using colourful language after a 'no try' verdict was given.

The minutes finished as follows: "The tribunal agrees with the grading at Grade F, and they have taken into account the player's previous similar charge earlier this season as well as his denial of the words used. Suspension: 7 matches."

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8541384

[Raging Penguin]

so 1.2 of the On Field Sentencing Guidelines by default creates a skewed process. The profanity maybe unnecessary but is the player actually incorrect with his theme of corruption from the ref?

Captains challenge could be useful or would the refs simply resist this

[moto748]

Captain's challenge can't and won't happen unless and until we have cameras at every game. And it seems the British game is too poor for that.

[Raging Penguin]

This is a shame, and hopefully is the only reason why it wont be implemented yet. Also it does seem that the cameras we do use are of lower resolution than the cameras in the NRL, at least it seems so from television viewing.

Perhaps a requisite for club grading could include camera equipment for whatever grading?

[Caboosegg]

So we now automatically believe the ref even when there isn't evidence to say which version is true?

[Raging Penguin]

It seems so, this wont help with the low standard of refereeing either, or is this by design to make game results more manageable to suit whatever narrative?