Burgess cops four-match ban
England prop George Burgess said it was never his intention to eye-gouge Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-zelezniak after being slapped with a four-match suspension following the ugly incident at Anfield.
Television footage showed Burgess’ fingers making contact with the New Zealand fullback’s eye in a tackle in the 61st minute of the second test England won 20-14 in Liverpool on Monday.
Burgess went unpunished in the game but he was later cited and the Rugby Football League announced on Wednesday that he was found guilty of a Grade D offence – ‘‘contrary to the true spirit of the game’’ – after a disciplinary hearing.
The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge before accepting his punishment, but said he could not accept that he would deliberately gouge an opponent’s eye.
‘‘I want to make it completely clear to everyone that it was never my intention to ever gouge anyone. It is not in my makeup as a rugby league player and never has been,’’ Burgess said after his suspension was made public.
‘‘I sincerely apologise to anyone who thinks bad of me after seeing the footage. I always set out to be a positive role model for the younger generation and I will continue to do so.
‘‘I accept my punishment but I will never accept that I gouged a fellow players eye intentionally. I have too much respect for the players I play against and with.’’
Burgess was also fined £500 (NZ$970) after a three-man international disciplinary panel – including one representative each from England and New Zealand – assessed the incident.
The panel decided the evidence against Burgess was too strong after his not guilty plea and a four-match suspension was issued for an offence deemed by the RFL as Grade D, which normally means a player would earn a ban between three and five matches.
The Rabbitohs forward’s suspension rules him out of England’s third test with New Zealand at Elland Road in Leeds on Monday, as well as the first three games of South Sydney’s NRL campaign next year.
Watene-zelezniak was able to carry on after the incident which left him needing treatment from medical staff and he confirmed after the game that he ‘‘felt a finger go in my eye’’.
However, the Penrith star brushed it off and said he was sure that Burgess’ act wasn’t intentional.
‘‘Lucky the doctor was there to give me something. It was a bit blurry after that. Whatever he gave me helped a lot,’’ Watenezelezniak said post-match.
‘‘That’s international football. I’m a tough boy, I’m an adult, I’m a man so I can take those kinds of things but what I can’t take is a loss.
‘‘He’s a big boy and he’s got some big fingers too. I think his whole hand would probably cover my whole face.
‘‘I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose. Him and his brothers are good guys and they’ve done really good things for the game. I don’t think that’s in their kit bag but it is what it is you just have to deal with it.’’