Wednesday 8 November 2017 23:26, UK
England winger Jermaine McGillvary is "outraged" about the damage to his reputation, despite being cleared of biting Lebanon captain Robbie Farah.
The Huddersfield player was facing a ban of up to 12 weeks had he been found guilty of a charge of contrary conduct, but he was exonerated at a World Cup disciplinary hearing in Sydney.
It means that McGillvary, who appeared via a video link from the England team hotel in Fremantle, will be free to play in England's final group match against France at Perth's Rectangular Stadium on Sunday.
"It's outrageous," McGillvary told the hearing. "I've been a pro for 10 years and I've got an outstanding disciplinary record.
"I've never been charged with anything like this. I'm outraged about what it's done to my reputation. I'm not that sort of player. I've never bit someone and I never will."
The 29-year-old was charged by a match-review panel following the allegation made by Farah two minutes into the second half of England's 29-10 win over Lebanon in Sydney last Saturday.
A three-man panel, which included former Wigan and Great Britain centre Barrie-Jon Mather, heard evidence for more than an hour but took just three minutes to deliver their not-guilty verdict.
McGillvary, one of only two specialist wingers in the 24-man squad, was flanked by head coach Wayne Bennett and team manager Jamie Peacock throughout the hearing and England engaged the services of leading NRL barrister Nick Ghabar to lead their defence.
Prosecutor Peter McGrath claimed that a still photograph taken by the match commissioner showed a mark just above strapping on Farah's left wrist was from a bite.
However, the hearing was told McGillvary was wearing a mouthguard and a report by England team doctor Chris Brookes, a qualified dental surgeon, said the mark was consistent with a "forearm being inserted into a mouth" rather than a bite.
He described the mark as a "superficial abrasion", saying: "There is no evidence of puncture marks I would expect to see if Jermaine McGillvary had bitten (Farah)."
McGillvary said he had been grapple-tackled by Farah and was left gasping for air.
"I felt his arm above my neck," he said. "It was pushing on my face very hard. I felt like I was about to choke. As I went to floor it got worse.
"I just wanted to get my mouth out so I could breathe. I was in that position for a while and I wanted to gasp for air through my mouth.
"I didn't bite him, I was trying to breathe. I opened my mouth to try to breathe. Not once did I shut my mouth. Not once when he put his arm into my mouth did I close my mouth.
"I've played over 200 games. I've been high tackled but never grapple-tackled like this. I've never felt so uncomfortable."
Farah was attending a civic reception organised by the World Cup in Sydney, but Ghabar questioned why he had not submitted a statement supporting his allegation.
