Tadge Beirne, whose red card against the All Blacks has been rescinded. Photo: AFP
Irish lock Tadhg Beirne's controversial red card for high contact on Beauden Barrett in Sunday's rugby international has been rescinded at a judicial hearing.
Beirne was shown a yellow card by French referee Pierre Brousset when he and Barrett collided early in the test match at Chicago's Soldier Field.
But it was soon upgraded to red by foul play review official Dan Jones, leaving Ireland with 14 men for 20 minutes.
It was a contentious decision, with Barrett receiving a short pass and almost immediately running into Beirne, his head colliding with the Irishman's shoulder.
After the All Blacks won 26-13, first five-eighth Barrett sympathised with Beirne, saying there was no intent.
Barrett even offered to help Beirne fight the decision at judiciary level.
"I can't hide from the fact that I copped a shoulder to that somewhere up there [his head], that's what happened," said Barrett. "I'll support him in terms of mitigating whatever happens next, because I don't feel there's any intention there."
Beirne's red card was rescinded at an independent disciplinary committee hearing. It means he is able to play if selected for Ireland against Japan on Sunday.
"Having considered the player's and other evidence and reviewed the footage, the disciplinary committee accepted the player's submissions that whilst an act of foul play had occurred, it did not meet the red card threshold," the committee said in a release on Wednesday.
Beauden Barrett after the All Blacks v Ireland, Gallagher Cup test match, Soldier Field, Chicago. Photo: ActionPress
Irish coach Andy Farrell thought the incident did not warrant a red card when he spoke after the match.
"You've got to be careful what you say, but if you watch it in real time, I don't know how it was transferred to [red]," said Farrell, whose side actually took the lead while down to 14 men. "They've obviously got their reason.
"They've got all their angles, but for me, the only way is to watch it in real time.
"We actually dealt with it pretty well, to be fair, but that doesn't make it any better."
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