Rugby League World Cup: England's Jermaine McGillvary cleared of biting
- Published
England winger Jermaine McGillvary has been cleared of biting Lebanon captain Robbie Farah during Saturday's World Cup group game in Sydney.
The Huddersfield player was facing a ban of up to 12 weeks had he been found guilty, but he was exonerated at a hearing held via video link.
It means McGillvary, 29, will be free to play in England's final group match against France in Perth on Sunday.
"I am grateful for a fair and balanced hearing," McGillvary said.
"I'm pleased this is over and can now fully focus on doing my best for England for the remainder of the World Cup."
Farah raised the complaint two minutes into the second half of England's 29-10 win over the Cedars, after the pair clashed at a ruck.
Referee Ben Thaler put McGillvary on report for the panel to discuss the incident.
McGillvary, who has an unblemished disciplinary record in Super League, appeared to tell Thaler after the incident: "You know I'm not that kind of person."
England manager Jamie Peacock sat next to McGillvary at the team hotel in Fremantle while evidence was presented for more than an hour.
The three-man judiciary panel took just three minutes to deliver a not-guilty verdict.
Farah did not attend the hearing to give evidence or submit any written evidence.
McGillvary, one of only two specialist wingers in the squad, was England's only scorer in the 18-4 defeat by Australia last week and followed that up with another try against Lebanon.
Robbie Farah said he was bitten by England's Jermaine McGillvary
- Published6 November 2017
- Published15 October 2017
