Viadana hit with hefty European fine

Moderate success for Calvisano

Viadana has been slapped with a hefty fine after a disciplinary committee ruled that the Italian club was guilty of both failing to prepare their pitch and fulfilling a fixture during the European Challenge Cup.

The club has been fined €3,500 ($4,230) after their game with Northampton was forfeited.

The original fixture was postponed on January 20 due to fog and a frozen pitch. The game was called off again the following day with the hearing ruling that "Viadana chose to forfeit the game rather than travel to an alternative venue for a rescheduled match".

Meanwhile, Calvisano have scored a minor victory in the wake of their appeal over a similar charge relating to the Heineken Cup.

The Italians were found guilty of not fulfilling their home fixture with Leeds Tykes on January 14 and their "refusal to fulfil a rescheduled fixture when directed by ERC".

The match referee actually ruled that the pitch was playable but the visitors refused to play, claiming that patches of the surface were icy and a danger to their players.

The ERC decide to back the Tykes and hit Calvisano with a €22,500 ($27,220)  fine but that fine was reduced to €10,000 ($12,100) at a hearing on Thursday.

The ERC Appeal Committee chose to drop two of three charges brought against the club - the order to pay €7,500 ($9,100) compensation to Leeds and a fine of €5,000 ($6,050) for Calvisano's purported refusal to fulfil a rescheduled fixture.

The €10,000 fine for "failing to prepare a suitable venue" was upheld.