Springbok centre Francois Steyn was on Tuesday cleared of allegedly biting a Tonga player during Saturday’s Rugby World Cup clash.
Steyn was cited by commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre for allegedly biting Tongan number 11 Joseph Vaka in the match at Lens, which South Africa won 30-25, with the charge initiated by the Tongan management.
However, after a hearing on Tuesday, Steyn was cleared of any offence.
”Following a judicial hearing, the judicial officer [JO] Terry Willis dismissed the citing complaint against South Africa’s player,” said a statement.
”The JO considered the evidence of Vaka, the Tongan team doctor and DVD clips from the match, together with those supplied by independent broadcasters. It was alleged the incident occurred during an altercation involving Tonga and South Africa players in the 62nd minute.
”After hearing the evidence, the JO accepted the explanation by Steyn that the sequence of events was such that he could not have been involved in the contact that led to the alleged mark on Vaka’s hand and accepted the evidence from the Tongan player that it may have happened by accident during the melee.” — Sapa-AFP