Broadview Football Club player Kobi Russell’s seven-week suspension overturned
A suburban footballer suspended for seven weeks for striking has had his ban overturned after “inconsistent if not contradictory” evidence at an appeal hearing.
Local Sport
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An Adelaide Footy League player had his seven-game striking suspension overturned at an appeal on Wednesday night.
Broadview footballer Kobi Russell was banned for a punch during a division two match last month which left Scotch Old Collegians’ Josh Heading in hospital with a damaged spleen.
But the Tigers lodged an appeal, which was upheld, leaving Russell free to play for the remainder of the season.
Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan said submissions by the independent appeal tribunal suggested the Scotch player’s evidence was “inconsistent if not contradictory” with the team’s witnesses’ allegations.
Kernahan said the victim was not present at the original hearing because he was in hospital at the time due to his injuries.
“It is unfortunate and worthy of reviewing the tribunal processes to see where either club could have been better served,” Kernahan said.
“Not only can I can empathise with the frustrations from both clubs if not our football community in general, there are two young men we need to mindful of here too.”
In a statement, Broadview said it commended the league’s appeal process for “delivering justice” to Russell.
The statement said Russell’s “conduct throughout an extremely challenging and stressful period has been exemplary”.
“We wish the injured Scotch player Josh Macpherson-Heading all the best with his recovery and thank him for his honesty at the appeal hearing, which resulted in the truth finally coming out”, the statement read.
The club urged those who had commented on the case to “consider the potential consequences – particularly when they are not consistent with the facts”.
Scotch Old Collegians president Rob Coulls said the club did not wish to comment.
The appeal was set to be heard last week but was adjourned until Wednesday.
The league’s tribunal then permitted Russell to line up in Broadview’s clash against Sacred Heart Old Collegians at home on Saturday.
The Tigers won the match 10.12 (72) to 10.9 (69) and Russell was named best-on-ground by the club after kicking three goals.
In the clash against Scotch on July 25, Heading had to be assisted from the ground, was taken away in an ambulance and spent the Saturday night in Flinders Medical Centre with a damaged spleen.
Russell’s strike was found by the tribunal at the initial hearing to be intentional and of severe impact.
Umpires did not report Russell on the day and Scotch requested an investigation into the incident following the match.