Harlequins’ prop Marler has been banned for two games and copped a £20,000 fine – to be paid to charity – for racially abusing Wales prop Samson Lee in England’s Six Nations clash with Wales last month.
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“A misconduct charge was brought by World Rugby against Marler in relation to a breach of Regulation 20 and the code of conduct, for comments made towards Samson Lee during the England versus Wales RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham on 12 March”.
The decision comes days after Marler saying that he would accept any decision made, but refused to be called a ‘racist.’ In a statement released before the hearing, Marler said: “I’m not a racist”.
The Six Nations judiciary decided no action was necessary but the sport’s governing body stepped in, concerned at the racial implications of Marler’s remark.
England coach Eddie Jones did reprimand Marler, while both Lee and Wales coach Warren Gatland dismissed the comment as banter – though Gatland later apologised for that.
The decision of the panel was announced almost seven hours after the hearing started, unusually quickly in misconduct cases where the normal procedure is to wait for the full written judgement to become available, which can take weeks.
Marler is free to play again on 18 April. My wife, kids, family and friends [yes, I do have some friends] know this.
“Whatever happens to me tomorrow I will accept. I’m sorry to anyone who was offended, saying it was in the hea of the moment’ isn’t an excuse, but one comment, one mistake, does not make me a racist”.
Marler has revealed that he will accept any punishment that is given to him, but stressed that his actions were a mistake rather than an act of racism.
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“Clearly this incident has raised broader issues for the game of rugby which require follow up and which we are undertaking directly with Six Nations”.
