Warriors Lose Appeal

2009-08-20

The New Haven Warriors have lost their appeal to the AMNRL judiciary over the one-match suspension of their tackling machine Ewan Robinson.

The big forward will now miss Friday night’s all important semifinal against the New York Knights in New York City.
The AMNRL Judiciary Committee has ruled that Robinson be banned for one game after being sent off during the quarterfinal against Philadelphia.

Earlier in the match, referee Rob Irwin penalized Robinson for a tackle and then sent him off following another hit that he deemed too high.

As part of the club’s submission to the judiciary, New Haven chairman Adam Hamon produced video evidence showing the tackle, while careless, was not dangerous.

The video showed that first contact was with the upper chest area and traveled up towards the head and was not a deliberate attempt to hurt the tackled player.

In another incident during the game, Irwin had issued a yellow card to a Philly player who deliberately used an elbow to strike the head of a Warriors opponent. Hamon suggested that Robinson should have been afforded a similar penalty.

Some questions have arisen about the make-up of the Judiciary Committee in that it is chaired by Bob Balachandran, who is also CEO of the New York Knights, the Warriors’ semifinal opponents.
Hamon stresses that while there is definitely no suggestion of impropriety, it places Balachandran in an awkward position by having to make decisions concerning players opposing his club.

New Haven has been told there is no recourse for an appeal by AMNRL president David Niu and will abide by his decision. The club will, however, seek changes to the structure and make-up of the judiciary at the end of season club representatives meeting.

In another decision, prop Matt Callan was suspended for the remainder of the Warriors’ campaign this season and for two matches next year on a biting charge.