MAC: I WAS BEING CHOKED
Bite claims toothless
JERMAINE McGILLVARY was cleared of biting – after claiming he feared he was being choked.
Lebanon skipper Robbie Farah insisted the England winger had bitten him during last Saturday’s game in Sydney.
But McGillvary was declared not guilty in an extraordinary World Cup disciplinary hearing yesterday.
Biting can carry a ban of up to 12 weeks in Australia.
And England would have been badly hit if McGillvary had been found guilty.
But he claimed he was gasping for air and feared he was choking after being hit with a firm tackle by Farah.
The Huddersfield winger said: “It from JULIE STOTT in Perth is outrageous. I’ve been a pro for 10 years and I’ve got an outstanding disciplinary record.
“I’m outraged by what it’s done to my reputation. I’m not that sort of player. I’ve never bit someone and I never will.”
McGillvary, one of the stand-out players of the tournament so far, scored two tries in the games against Australia and Lebanon.
He is now free to play on and told the hearing: “I felt his arm above my neck, he’s trying to squeeze me in. It was pushing on my face hard. I felt like I was about to choke.
“As I went to the floor it got worse. I felt like I was choking. I just wanted to get my mouth out so I could breathe.”
McGillvary, who was wearing a mouthguard, tried to break free but was pushed back on to Farah’s arm by Lebanon player Michael Lichaa’s forearm.
He added: “I felt a lot of pressure from their No.9. His elbow was down on my head.
“I didn’t bite him, I was trying to breathe. Not once when he put his arm into my mouth did I close my mouth.”