The Rugby Championship
Pumas flanker cleared of 'eye-gouging'
ESPN Staff
August 29, 2013

Argentina flanker Pablo Matera has been cleared of eye-gouging South Africa's Francois Louw during their Rugby Championship clash in Mendoza last Saturday.

Matera was charged with an act contrary to good sportsmanship during his side's 22-17 defeat to the Springboks at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.

The SANZAR Judicial Hearing was held before Judicial Officer Terry Willis via video conference with the assistance of former professional player Paul Thomson from New Zealand.

After hearing the evidence of an eye specialist, Dr Michael Delaney and the evidence of Louw and Matera, the Judicial Officer was not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there was contact with the eyes or eye gouging such as to constitute a breach of the laws of the game of rugby. Accordingly, the citing complaint was dismissed.

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