AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Italy’s Leonardo Ghiraldini has been suspended 15 weeks for eye-gouging Ireland’s Cian Healy at the Rugby World Cup.
Ghiraldini denied his actions during Sunday’s match were deliberate, but judicial officer Bruce Squire disagreed in Tuesday’s hearing.
Eye-gouging is a top offense with a minimum sanction of 24 weeks. Squire said in his decision he had wanted to lengthen the ban because its prevalence hadn’t decreased.
But taking into account Ghiraldini’s unblemished disciplinary record, the ban was reduced, keeping him out of rugby until Jan. 18.
