Toulouse five-eighth and former Brisbane and Parramatta star Corey Norman has been found guilty of intentionally sticking his hand up a rival player’s backside and suspended for eight weeks.
The Australian was charged with the most severe offence following the incident which took place in their 32-18 Super League defeat.
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Norman pleaded not guilty after being charged with a Grade F offence of ‘Other Contrary Behaviour’.
His punishment means he will play no further part in the French side’s battle to avoid relegation this season.
On top of the ban, he’s also been fined $861.
The ruling, published by the Rugby Football League, read: ‘The footage of the incident shows a deliberate movement of Corey Norman’s left arm and hand over the top of Oliver Holmes and on to his buttocks.
“The footage shows a deliberate placing of Corey Norman’s hands and fingers on the buttocks and coupled with the immediate complaint from Holmes, the reaction of his team-mate Danny Walker and the statement of Holmes to which we have measured regard we are entirely satisfied that this was an intentional placing of a hand between the buttocks of the opposing player and we find the charge proved.”
There’s every chance we’ve seen the last of Norman on a rugby league field since he only came out of retirement to sign a short-term deal with Toulouse. He started all 11 matches since making his Super League debut in May.
Similar incidents have occurred in the English game in recent years.
Norman’s former Parramatta teammate Kenny Edwards was banned for 10 matches for putting his fingers up the backside of an opponent while playing for Huddersfield last year.
While, Catalans back-rower Joel Tomkins was also suspended for eight games for a similar offence in 2020.
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