The one-week ban that was handed down to James Haskell for head-butting has caused major controversy, after the RFU disciplinary chief Judge heaped blame on referee Martin Fox.
During the match in question (Wasps V Worcester), two Worcester players were seen to repeatedly strike Wasps captain Phil Vickery with Haskell requesting referee Fox step-in to prevent further clashes. When this didn’t happen, Haskell took matters into his own hands resulting in the head-butt.
RFU disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett was critical of Fox’s performance, commenting,
“The referee was very close to the incident and must have had a clear view of what occurred, yet took no or insufficient disciplinary action. Had the referee taken action against Wood initially, then none of the rest of the foul play would have followed. It is almost beyond comprehension that he then decided to penalise Vickery for the least of the all the acts of foul play.”