The Penalty Senate of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (Head: Karl Korentschnig, Observer: Bogdan Jakopic and Dr. Alexander Gruber) annuls the match penalty the player Sasa Martinovic (#23) received in the game against EC-KAC on January 13th 2012. The player will not be penalized and as of now is allowed to play.

Justification:

After reviewing the play there was no violation of the rules by Sasa Martinovic (#23), no match penalty had to be called. Martinovic did not have much contact with opposing player Gregor Hager (#17). Martinovic and Hager only had a light contact with their shoulders.

Obviously Hager pretended to be hit in the head without actually being hit. It is clear that the action of Hager was unsportsmanlike behaviour. If Hager wouldn’t have avoided the check from Martinovic in time a match penalty could have been appropriate. In fact the referee called by mistake a serious violation of the rules. Without the possibility of reviewing the play the referee had to expect a serious violation of the rules. To avoid a disadvantage for Medvescak the Penalty Senate had the chance to review the play. After clarification that player Hager acted unsportsmanlike the Penalty Senate annulled the match penalty.