Mapimpi Faces Three-Game Suspension

Makazole Mapimpi has found himself suspended for three games after receiving a significant sanction for dangerous play.

This comes after an incident during the Sharks’ 42-22 victory over Cardiff on January 25, where he was involved in a physical and verbal altercation with Cardiff’s hooker, Efan Daniel.

The Incident That Led to Suspension

The altercation occurred off the ball, and both players were seen making contact with each other’s faces at some point.

Social media reactions were quick to suggest that Mapimpi might have been more at fault, with many speculating that he was responsible for a potential eye gouge.

As a result, Mapimpi was cited and later appeared before a judicial committee.

After reviewing the incident, the committee found him guilty of the charges.

Official Statement on the Suspension

According to a press release from the United Rugby Championship (URC), the entry point for Mapimpi’s offence was four weeks.

However, due to his full cooperation during the disciplinary process, his sanction was reduced to three weeks.

The release explained that the offence, which took place in the 52nd minute of the match, violated Law 9.12.

This law prohibits both physical and verbal abuse, including actions such as eye contact, biting, punching, or striking with any part of the body.

During the disciplinary proceedings, Mapimpi admitted that his actions warranted a red card.

The committee agreed, acknowledging that the incident met the red card threshold.

While the standard entry point was four weeks, Mapimpi’s apology and his active participation in the process earned him a two-week reduction.

However, his previous suspension for a similar offence in the 2022/2023 season added an aggravating factor, leading to an additional week’s sanction.

This brought his total suspension to three games.

The Games Mapimpi Will Miss

As a result of the suspension, Mapimpi will miss the following matches for the Sharks:

15 February: vs Vodacom Bulls (URC)
1 March: vs Emirates Lions at Ellis Park (URC)
8 March: vs Emirates Lions at Kings Park (URC)

What Are Your Thoughts on the Incident?

We’d love to hear your opinion on what happened with Mapimpi.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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