McCullough cleared of racial abuse charge

European Cup News:Ulster's Matt McCullough was yesterday cleared of racially abusing London Irish and England sevens player, Trinidad-born Delon Armitage.

The lock appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin yesterday to answer two misconduct complaints concerning the alleged use of racist language to the London Irish winger/fullback during and after the Heineken European Cup Pool Five matches between the teams at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, December 9th, and at Ravenhill on December 15th last year.

Having heard four hours of evidence, the committee, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar (Scotland) and also comprising Paul Mauriac (France) and Aurwell Morgan (Wales), ruled that a prima facie case had not been established and that the misconduct complaints against McCullough should not be upheld.

There have been several cases relating to racial abuse prior to this one but none have yet been proven to the ERC Disciplinary Committee. Both Ulster Rugby and McCullough welcomed the verdict.

"Throughout the period leading up to the hearing, Ulster Rugby and Matt McCullough strenuously denied that anything said was, or was intended to be, of a racially derogative nature. However, the need for ERC to fully investigate any claims of racism is recognised, and while the period leading up to the verdict has been difficult for Matt and his family, the hearing has provided an opportunity for Matt to clear his name," said an Ulster statement.

McCullough was yesterday named on Ulster coach Mark McCall's 23-man squad to face Ospreys in the Magners Celtic League at Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

The ERC also released two other citations. Daniel Larrechea, the Sale Sharks full back, is due to appear before the committee as a result of a citing arising from the Pool Three match against the Ospreys at Edgeley Park last Saturday. Larrechea has been cited by match commissioner, Iain Goodall (Scotland), for alleged eye gouging and spitting. David Couzinet, the Biarritz lock, is also due to appear as a result of an alleged stamping incident during his side's Pool Six match against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the dates for the four European Cup quarter-final matches will not be known until this afternoon at the earliest or tomorrow at the latest.