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Subscribe to RSS FeedLengthy ban for Eloshvili
Going Down: Rémy Martin received medical treatment following Eloshvili's dangerous challenge
Georgia wing Otar Eloshvili has been hit with a seven-week suspension from all rugby after being found guilty of affecting a dangerous tackle during his side's loss to France in Marseille on Sunday.
Eloshvili lifted France flank Rémy Martin above his shoulder and appeared to force him head-first into the turf in the dying stages of the hosts' 64-7 victory at Stade Vélodrome.
Such acts of foul play carry a recommended ban of ten weeks, but World Cup judicial officer Jannie Lubbe said Eloshvili's "good disciplinary record and character, his immediate acknowledgment of culpability, the genuine remorse of the player [and] the fact he apologised immediately after the match to the French player" had won him him a reduced sentance.
Eloshvili actually remained on the pitch in the wake of the incident after referee Alan Lewis mistakenly sin-binned Georgia centre Revaz Gigauri for the tackle.
But Lubbe - "having reviewed the referee's reasons for his decision to award a yellow card for the incident" - ruled that those reasons were wrong and duly absolved Gigauri of blame.
Like many of the Georgian players, Eloshvili plays in France and his suspension means he will miss five games for Arras Rugby.
He will also miss Georgia's European Nations Cup game against Portugal on 10 November.
The Lelos have 48 hours in which to appeal against the decision.
