Scotland's Finn Russell handed three-week ban following red-card against France
Finn Russell was sent-off in the 71st minute during the game against France
©PA
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has been handed a three-week ban following his red-card incident in the recently concluded Six Nations game against France.
The 28-year-old was sent-off in the encounter in Paris as he led his elbow to the neck of France fullback Brice Dulin. Russell face an independent disciplinary hearing and was proved guilty of breaching Law 9.12 that attracted a mid-range sanction of six weeks.
However, taking into account the remorse shown by him during the incident, conduct during hearing, guilty plea and other mitigating factors, the panel reduced Russell's suspension to three weeks.
"Mr Russell accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and that it had warranted a red card. However, he did not accept that he had 'struck' Mr Dulin and suggested that the foul play should have been categorised as an infringement of Law 9.24 (A ball-carrier is permitted to hand off an opponent provided excessive force is not used).
"The Disciplinary Committee decided that Mr Russell's actions had been properly categorised as striking with the arm under Law 9.12 and found the offence to warrant a mid-range entry point (six weeks).
"The Disciplinary Committee identified no aggravating features. In terms of mitigation, the Disciplinary Committee gave credit for Mr Russell's prompt acceptance that his actions had constituted foul play and been worthy of a red card, his disciplinary record, his attitude to the disciplinary process before and during the hearing, and his clear remorse (shown by his response to Mr Dulin on the pitch), and reduced the suspension by three weeks so that the final period of suspension is three weeks."
Russell will now miss Racing 92's round-of-16 Champions Cup clash against Edinburgh on Sunday and also the Top 14 matches depending upon his team's progress in the European competition.
