Ten days ago at a Heathrow airport hotel, an RFU disciplinarypanel passed judgment on the actions of Duncan Bell in Bath's awaywin at Sale in the middle of last month.
Bath's venerable loosehead had been cited by the independentcommissioner for "making contact with the eye or eye area of anopponent" - in this case Sale's former England forward, Chris Jones.
While such a charge covers a range of actions, it also includesthe "heinous crime" - to quote Duncan himself - of eye gouging. Soit was that virtually all of the media reported Bell had beenaccused of precisely that.
Gouging is disgustingly awful and carries a dreadful stigma onthe back of accusation alone. For some commentators, justice doesnot wait for the judicial process to run its course.
The no-smoke-without-fire merchants are often quick to condemn,intentionally or otherwise, through the medium of garish andoverlysimplistic headlines. It's a story, after all, written up bysome and believed by others.
The local press publicised both the allegation and then, afterthe hearing, the fact that the citing was dismissed withoutreservation. Some other journalists, however, ran the original storybut did not follow it up with Bell's acquittal, presumably as a non-story is far less newsworthy.
A well-deserved reputation for an honest approach to an intenselyphysical and confrontational sport, acquired over a long career, canbe lost, or damaged at best, through the injudicious use ofemotionally-charged language such as eye gouging.
In Bell's case there had been no complaint, either to the refereeat the time or later, from the supposed victim or his club. Indeed,they were to provide disproving evidence at the disciplinary hearingwhich helped to exonerate the Bath prop.
The charge was brought by the citing commissioner after he hadviewed video footage of the incident. So far, so good - and fairenough, it might seem.
However, in determining the validity or otherwise of the charge,the panel viewed other video footage which conclusively showed thatBell made no contact whatsoever with the eyes or eye area of anyopponent - even unintentionally, let alone deliberately.
Surely that same reverse-angle video evidence must have beenavailable to the citing commissioner? He should certainly have triedto obtain any such additional video footage, in my opinion, beforedeciding to cite the player for such an abhorrent offence.
Bell's hitherto unblemished conduct record has been unnecessarilysullied for want of a sufficiently professional approach to such animportant aspect of policing the game.
In some cases of allegedly disreputable behaviour it is right andproper that full consideration to all of the circumstances is givenat a tribunal procedure to ensure that justice is done and, asalways, seen to be done.
In other situations - such as when a grievous accusation like eyegouging is seen to have been made - then surely there must be atleast some prima facie evidence, like a victim statement, medicalreport or clear video footage, to justify a charge being broughtagainst a player.
The panel found that the citing complaint in Duncan's casedescribed events accurately up to the point when the confrontationoccurred - and were deafeningly silent as to their verdict on itsaccuracy thereafter.
While the general warning to players of the need to avoid anytype of contact with another's eyes or eye areas is of courseentirely valid, it should also be equally unnecessary.
However, its inclusion in this judgment serves only to attempt tospare the total embarrassment of the independent citing commissionerfor undeservedly endangering the reputation of a fine player on theflimsiest of grounds.
SUPPORTERS' CORNER The supporters' club coach travelling toGloucester on Saturday departs Great Pulteney Street at 10.15am andLambridge at 10.30am. The cost is Pounds 8 for members and Pounds 10for non members.
Transport to Saracens on Sunday, April 3 will cost Pounds 13 formembers and Pounds 15 for non-members, departing Great PulteneyStreet at 9.15am and Lambridge at 9.30am.
The trip to the rearranged game at Newcastle will see the coachdepart Bath at 7.30am on Saturday, April 30 and return the followingevening after an overnight stay at the Novotel Airport Hotel,including breakfast. It will cost Pounds 83 per person sharing adouble or twin room, or Pounds 88 for non-members, and an additionalPounds 15 for a single supplement. A Pounds 35 non-refundabledeposit is required on booking and the balance must be paid by April9. For all travel enquiries, contact Jan or Mike on 01380 871416.
On Wednesday, prop Duncan Bell will return to the caller's chairfor Belly's Bingo in the clubhouse (7pm for 7.30pm start). The eventis free for BRSC members and will cost Pounds 2 for non-members.Bingo books will cost Pounds 5. Tickets are available from JanWarrington on 01380 871416 or from the BRSC table in front of theclubhouse.
The supporters' club's traditional race night is still scheduledfor Friday, April 15 but the planned visit to the club's new centreof excellence at Farleigh House has been postponed.
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