The UAR’s Executive Committee has expressed their total support to second-rower Mariano Galarza who was banned yesterday for 9 weeks by World Rugby, thereby ending his Rugby World Cup campaign. Argentina believes firmly that the decision by Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC (England) to have been unjust.
Upon banning Galarza World Rugby did not provide video evidence to support the claims made that Galarza had, in fact, made contact with the eyes of All Black Brodie Retallick. In response to queries on social media a video of the incident was posted. It can be seen here.
The UAR has made he decision to appeal the ban and has offered unconditional support for Galarza. A release from the UAR stated:
Following the statement issued by World Rugby, and reproduced in a UAR Press Release, in relation to the sanction of Mariano Galarza, the Board of Directors of this entity hold that:
1– Complete support for the statement made by Mariano Galarza and supported by the UAR in the hearing held during the day of yesterday, in the sense that there is no situation of illegal play on the part of the player.
2– As such, the complete notification of the mentioned judgement is awaited in order to present the relevant appeal with the aim of reversing the imposed sanction.
3– All of the Los Pumas player roster, staff members and the board, fully rely on honesty, loyalty and respect for the game and all protagonists by the player, with irrefutable proof, his impeccable career both on and off the playing field.
4– We have faith in the power, through which formal channels of appeal, prove that the penalty imposed does not respond at all to what happened and disciplinary criteria to that which this union operates.