European Champions Cup: Delon Armitage's suspension reduced to eight weeks
Friday 9 January 2015 18:15, UK
Toulon star Delon Armitage’s suspension for misconduct has been reduced on appeal from 12 to eight weeks.
Armitage was banned after being found to have directed abusive language at Leicester Tigers supporters during a European Champions Cup match last month.
An independent Appeal Committee upheld his appeal after finding that the Disciplinary Committee made a mistake in the way it determined how long he should be banned for.
His suspension will now run from December 17 last year until February 8, therefore Armitage will be free to play on 9 February.
The full-back was given the original punishment on December 17 after it was alleged he used offensive language towards fans at Welford Road in Toulon's European Rugby Champions Cup match against the Tigers on December 7.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the independent disciplinary committee were satisfied that the 31-year-old had directed abusive language to the home supporters after the match.
It was Armitage's second post-match misconduct case in the last four years.
After the initial ban was announced, Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal revealed the club would consider taking legal action against the Leicester fans.
He told newspaper La Provence last month: "It's incomprehensible. This is an extraordinary decision which rests only on the allegations of two opposition supporters, whose objectivity we can legitimately put in doubt.
"But there is no formal proof, no official document, not even television pictures to attest to the veracity of these testimonies. We aren't discounting the eventuality of going after these two supporters in court for false testimonies."
Armitage played 26 times for England from 2008-12 before leaving London Irish for Toulon.
