SARACENS OUT-HALF Owen Farrell is now a major doubt for the club’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster in two weekends’ time after being shown a red card for a high tackle in today’s Premiership defeat to Wasps.
Farrell was sent off for tackling Wasps’ Charlie Atkinson high around the head in dangerous fashion, with referee Christophe Ridley having a very straightforward decision to immediately show him red without even looking at a replay.
Saracens went on to lose 28-18.
Atkinson was forced off the pitch due to the head injury he suffered in the tackle, having stayed down receiving treatment for a lengthy period.
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Farrell will face the usual disciplinary hearing as a result of his red card and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t receive a suspension of more than two weeks.
Saracens are due to face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in their Champions Cup quarter-final on Saturday 19 September.
The English club were relegated from the 2019/20 Premiership for breaching the salary cap but have been aiming to end their delayed 2019/20 European campaign in style as they prepare to spend the 2020/21 campaign in the Championship.
Losing England captain Farrell would be an obvious blow ahead of that meeting with Leinster but it now appears very likely that 28-year-old is facing a ban.