Bachar Houli handed four-week suspension

THE fearsome backlash to the AFL Tribunal’s treatment of Bachar Houli has led the league to backflip and double his punishment.

Bachar Houli of the Richmond Tigers reacts after receiving a four week suspension at the AFL Appeals trial at AFL House.

The AFL appeals board has doubled the ban of Richmond defender Bachar Houli to four weeks.

After a marathon two-hour hearing on Thursday night, the three-man board ruled that the original two-match ban for striking Carlton’s Jed Lamb was manifestly inadequate.

Houli made a brief statement afterwards, saying he accepted the decision.

“The decision has been made and I accept it,” Houli told reporters.

“My concern is, and always has been, for Jed [Lamb] and I hope he recovers really quickly. We move on with life and I’ll do my best to help the team prepare for the next few games.”

Richmond Tigers defender Bachar Houli leaves the AFL Appeals Board.

AFL operations manager Simon Lethlean used his response to reiterate Houli’s standing in the game, saying the four-match ban will not tarnish his reputation.

“I’m satisfied with that result,” Lethlean said.

“He is a leader in our game and a person of great integrity.

“His remorse for his actions was clear after the completion of the match.

“Our actions in appealing the tribunal decision were about protecting players from injury to the head and this is very important to us.

“I want to reassure Bachar that he will continue to be held in the highest standard and regard in our game and in our community.”

The new ruling still didn’t sit too kindly with everyone though.

AFL journalist Mark Robinson said while the four-week suspension was more acceptable for Houli’s hit on Jed Lamb, he said many AFL fans will find the situation confusing, as he does.

“I find it all quite confusing,” Robinson told AFL 360. “People sitting at home now, quite rightly, could say ‘What in the hell is going on at the AFL tribunal?’.

“We’ve got one group of people giving two weeks, and they appeal, and it’s really out of the mix and they say ‘no, you can have four’.

“I say well where is the consistency?”

Simon Lethlean speaks to the media during a press conference after the Bachar Houli Tribunal Decision.

Houli’s Richmond teammate Alex Rance spoke on Nine’s AFL Footy Show and was guarded in his response to the new ban.

“I guess it’s the AFL’s call whether it was the right call or not,” Rance said. “I won’t give my opinion because I don’t want to get myself in any hot water from that perspective.

“But the AFL has the right to make whatever statements they like.

“It’s unfortunate, because Bachar is such a top calibre man.”

“I actually told him he should have taken Jake King to the tribunal, because he’s had a few run ins with the law. He probably would have looked like an angel standing next to him.

“I guess the PM does do have a bit more punch.”

Alex Rance of the Tigers runs with the ball during a Richmond Tigers training session.

The tribunal jury — comprising David Neitz, Hamish McIntosh and Wayne Henwood — dismissed Houli’s argument the incident was careless instead of intentional conduct.

But they sparked outcry when they handed down a two-game sanction, having cited Houli’s exemplary character after being presented with references from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and celebrity academic Waleed Aly.

The AFL contested the decision, a historic first, sending Houli back to the tribunal.

- with AAP

Originally published as Bachar Houli handed four-week suspension