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Schalk Burger has escaped with only an eight-week ban after being found guilty of gouging Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the Second Test in Pretoria following a 13-hour disciplinary hearing.
Many in the sport will be staggered that Burger, who won his 50th cap in the match, got off so lightly for what appeared to be one of the worst examples of this despicable act by a rugby player.
He will miss the final game in Johannesburg on Saturday and at least his reputation is now tarnished by this act.
His Springboks team-mate Bakkies Botha is also out of the Third Test at Ellis Park after being suspended for two weeks following a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones.
Burger was yellow-carded by referee Christophe Berdos just 32 seconds into the game and then cited by Steve Hinds.
He appeared before Canadian judicial officer Alan Hudson who took a ridiculously long time to come to a decision on what was a clear case, given the television evidence.
The decision was announced just after 1am South Africa time, more than 13 hours after his hearing was scheduled to start.
See video of Schalk Burger's eye gouge
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan voiced his extreme displeasure over Burger's actions after the game and also hit back at comments from his Springboks counterpart Peter de Villiers.
He added: "I heard a quote [from De Villiers] that it might be part of the game. To me, that is never part of the game.
"I am very disappointed he said that. I can't see that ever being part of the game. It certainly wouldn't be part of a game I want to be associated with."
Fitzgerald, who did not suffer any damage despite Burger's fingers around his eyes said: "I felt the fingers in my eyes.
"I was surprised that someone of Schalk Burger's quality would do something like that. It seems to be becoming part of the game and should be dealt with severely."
Watch Standard Sport's Chris Jones second Test video diary
Reader views (20)
The Boks excuse all sorts of thuggery when perpertrated by themselves as nothing to complain about.Its inherant in their genes. They not only excuse it but encourge it when its condoned not only by them but by definition the weakness of the Officials in levying punishment.
- Peter French, Orihuela Costa Spain, 29/06/2009 17:26
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Useless NZ match official against the Lions
- Dave Stephens, London, 29/06/2009 16:16
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As someone who likes football, I wouldn't dream of commenting on something technical in a game about which I know very little, although I enjoy watching test match rugby.
I can say this. In an international football match some years ago the German goalkeeper deliberately raised his studs to the oncoming French player, Batiston, committing a foul and putting him out of the game. There should have been a penalty and the goalkeeper sent off but there was neither. It changed the course of the game; it was inneffective refereeing.
If Burger "gouged" the Lions player and the correct punishment was a red card, that is what should have happened. As the Lions scored points whilst he was off the field, it is reasonable to infer the Lions would have won had he been sent off in the first minute. It is not open to say it is justified because it happens a lot or the other team was goading the opposition. If this truly is a red-card offence, he should have gone; no questions asked and the consequences of that left to a 15-14 man game. What the leniency of the referee's decision does is to make further gouging more likely. For example, if this had been the RFU World Cup Final and gouging had occurred and the offender not sent off, as a result of which his side won, what sort of statement or example would that be? The offender would gladly miss the next so many games once he had his winners' medal in his shorts' pocket. To leave Burger on the field was negligent.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 29/06/2009 14:39
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No change for SA rugby. They claim to have cleaned up their act but their thuggery and bad sportsmanship is there for all to see. As for the referee - pathetic.
The Lions shouldn't bother touring this dump ever again and how the world rape and robbery capital got the fifa WC is a mystery.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex, 29/06/2009 13:27
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Quite right - the Brits should not play against the Springboks,
The Brits are too soft for the Northern Hemisphere game.
- Justin Pearce, Hong Kong SAR, 29/06/2009 13:17
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I have seen much worse cases of eye gouging and I believe that the citing officials must have taken into consideration that at no point did Burger look at where his hand was going. This was why the ban is 6 weeks which was the minimum punishemnt for such an offense.
- Mike B, London UK, 29/06/2009 13:10
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I do not condone Burger but I do not like the selective video clip because something happened just prior to this in that ruck. This is not characteristic behaviour for this player who has played 50 Tests and hundreds of S14 games. Was he provoked at the bottom of that ruck and did he retaliate? The reataliation is not acceptable but my question is legitimate. The Botha ban is complete rubbish. He entered the ruck from the last foot and rucked the Welsh prop out hard. Tough. The Lions are whinging but they have been off their feet and killing the ball all tour, blatantly. It is a miracle more of them have not been rucked out more forcibly becauser the refs have been very lax on this issue. The Lions were niggling from the get go in this Test and it was very clear they were looking to provoke a reaction. Both Shaw and Sheridan were at it more than once. The Lions gloated and sniggered after winning the 2nd Test in 1997 despite being totally outplayed [3 tries to 1] now they are whingeing after losing 2 Tests against a side that has simply been well below their best. The truth is the Boks have been pretty poor for 3 of the 4 halves of rugby played. The Lions could easily have won this series 2-0 or 3-0 but blew through incompetence [Monye] and stupidity . Had the Boks played with ball in hand the Lions would have suffered record defeats. The first half the first Test proved that pretty conclusively. The Boks won despite being coached by a clown. Watch Brussouw in Test 3!
- James Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, NY, USA, 29/06/2009 13:04
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Jim what planet are you on boy, if the whinging poms pulled out of every sport, because of the ref, because the field, the blah blar blar where would you be, back in Great Britain, there is nothing Great about the place and get over it.
It was a brilliant game of rugby, the Lions were a great team to watch and a draw would of been great going into the next test, but rugby is 80 minutes and we outclassed you in the last 10
- Duncan, Gibraltar, 29/06/2009 12:53
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As usual watching SA play rugby leaves bad taste in mouth
- Alex, London, 29/06/2009 12:52
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as an ex rugby player,i find the Des comments totally baffling,this type of thuggery has no place in the game,it was around 10 to 15 years ago,and seemed to disappear from the sport,but recently its reared its ugly head again,the guy should have been sent off,you dont accidentally gouge someones eyes,there was clear intent from a s.africa side who were intent on bullying and sly tactics off the ball,and got frustrated when the lions stood up too them and gave as good as they got..the ref bottled it,with the linesman 2 yards away and with the authority to make a correct choice,but bottled it..
- Mark, w.wales, 29/06/2009 12:49
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Unfortunately, the referee was weak and only appeared to give decisions against the lions, especially in the second half. He gave South Africa far to many warnings about their behaviour yet failed to award any penalties. Burger should have had a straight re. This is how South Africa play. They tederise the opposition with foul play and then move in for the kill. However, they don't like it up em. Any thing against them, they whine like a small child. It should have been a Lions win on Saturday.
- Bruce Edwards, London, 29/06/2009 12:40
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Burger should have received a life ban.
- St, London, 29/06/2009 12:35
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Des, your comments are nothing short of staggering. I suggest you watch the incident again. Burger enters the ruck and clearly goes straight for Fitzgeralds face and eyes in an attempt to remove hom from the ball and discourage him from ever doing it again. He then roles over and is still at it. If he was rucking properly he would have bound on to Fitzgeralds arms, shoulders or torso and driven him off using his arms, he deliberately wrapped his fingers around his face. This was no accident. Extraordinary comments.
- Nick S, London, 29/06/2009 12:11
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A lot of pushing and shoving off the ball. Seemed as if the lions were trying o provoke the Boks, and it worked. Once the Boks stopped being aggressive and started playing rugby they were in total control.
- Martin, Pretoria South africa, 29/06/2009 11:53
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Lions management need to do what the ref didn't and make a stand on the gouging incident, even to the extent of threatening to withdraw from final test if De Villiers does not retract his condoning Burger's dispicable act.
Nothing about this Lions tour resembles anything like a level playing field - I mean Burger not getting sent off and getting only 8 weeks!
Changes to the tour format have to be made to avoid it becoming a rediculous sporting mis-match in 4 years.
- Jim, London, 29/06/2009 11:43
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I don't think that Burger intentionally made contact with Fitzgeralds eyes. He was on his back with his face and head facing the opposite direction to Fitzgerald. If that was you or me and we were trying to get up from that position we would push downwards in order to stand up. Fitzgerald was not injured and completed the game without having to seek medical attention. Not even blurred vision. To my mind is was a complete unintenional accident. As for Botha's two week ban, we might as well all give up rugby if we are not allowed to compete for the ball after it has exited from a ruck. It is painfully obvious that Botha entered the ruck legally and he attempted to gather the ball, again legally, with both hands. Who is Alan Hudson? It is obvious to me that he is unfortunately completely out of his depth. I heard that 'little' man Moore comment this morning. Moore was perhaps the dirtyest hooker to ever disgace an English shirt and for him to jump on this publicity band wagon is a disgrace and says more about him than the people involved. Did anyone watch the French/Australian match? After the ref had penalised the french scrum 6 times consecutvely,who were well on top in the scrum, he then said to the French, "push softly." I ask you?
- Des Egan, london UK, 29/06/2009 11:14
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I think it is disgusting and he should have been banned for longer....funny how the citing commissioner managed to miss Andrew Sheridan punching Andries Bekker in the crotch though!!!
- Shawn, JHB, SA, 29/06/2009 10:45
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Botha deliberates attacks prop Jones off the ball, Fitzgerakd gets an eye gouging, and neither gets sent off the field, and we are supposed to believe that the Boks were the better team. No way. Their illegal and barbaric tactics to gain revenge for their defeat to the Lions last time has no place in modern rugby. No wonder they couldn't attract a full house for either test
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 29/06/2009 10:23
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Perhaps, but in SA we're disappointed by Schalk and don't think its acceptable
- Garret, Pietermaritzburg, RSA, 29/06/2009 09:49
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And everyone will focus on the unfortunate incidents. Peter de Villiers is probably right that it happens more often but players usualy are smart enough to do it awy from teh camera. That doesn't excuse it though. Burger deserves his ban, Both probably not as much. Still, the Springboks deserved the win.
- Mek, London, 29/06/2009 09:05
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