Reds lock cleared of eye-gouging charge

QUEENSLAND Reds lock Ed O’Donoghue was yesterday cleared of an eye-gouging charge at a Sanzar judicial hearing.

O’Donoghue was red-carded in the 79th minute of a Super 15 match.

The incident led to a matchdeciding penalty that earned the Melbourne Rebels a 30-27 victory in Brisbane on Saturday.

Sanzar judicial officer Jannie Lubbe found O’Donoghue not guilty of gouging Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham.

While television match official Steve Lescynscki said he detected fingers in the eyes of Higginbotham, Lubbe took a different view after studying all camera angles – in conjunction with medical evidence from the Rebels that their skipper was unharmed.

“The act of eye-gouging generally triggers a reaction from the victim which was not evident in this case and helped support my finding,” said Lubbe.

“Eye-gouging is certainly a very serious and unacceptable offence in the game of rugby and any allegation warrants a thorough investigation.

“In this instance, having thoroughly reviewed video evidence from numerous angles and the considering witness testimony, I am satisfied that Mr O’Donoghue has not committed the act in question.”

Queensland skipper James Horwill did not mince his words after the game, saying his team was “robbed by a stupid refereeing decision”. — AFP

Picture: GETTY IMAGES TIGHT SQUEEZE: Ed O’Donoghue of the Reds and Scott Higginbotham of the Rebels are involved in an altercation during their round 14 Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium 2014 in Brisbane. O’Donoghue has been cleared of eye-gouging claims