RICHMOND backman Bachar Houli has been banned for two games after the Tribunal found him guilty of intentionally striking Carlton's Jed Lamb.
The Tiger, represented by Sam and Michael Tovey, argued the contact was careless, rather than intentional as was found by the Match Review Panel.
Houli also submitted character references from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Gold Logie-winning TV presenter and academic Waleed Aly.
In the incident against the Blues, Houli swung his left arm behind him and struck Lamb, who was left unconscious and didn't return to the game.
The MRP graded the incident high impact and high contact and referred the case directly to the Tribunal.
AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods submitted to Tribunal chairman Ross Howie QC that a four-game ban was the appropriate sanction, while Sam Tovey, representing the club and Houli, asked for a two-game suspension.
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Tribunal members David Neitz, Hamish McIntosh and Wayne Henwood deliberated for five minutes before finding Houli intentionally struck Lamb and another five minutes before settling on his penalty. The entire case took almost two hours.
Bachar Houli with Gillon McLachlan and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday. Picture: AFL Photos
When the Tribunal handed down its verdict, it said it was "rare" to come across someone with Houli's character.
"My programs that I run target more than 11,000 students that come from an Islamic background all around Australia. I run an academy as well," Houli, a devout Muslim, said earlier in the hearing.
"Our objective is to get these young men into football. If not, (we want to make them) good community leaders."
Houli is set to miss games against Port Adelaide and St Kilda.
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The Tiger said Lamb had been holding his jumper, so Houli swung his arm back in an attempt to separate himself. He said he tried to connect with Lamb's "elbow to shoulder area".
Houli said he went to Carlton leaders Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs immediately after the game and said: "I'd never, ever do anything to hurt anyone".
He pointed to his record inside and outside football (never having been suspended in a 162-game AFL career or in junior football) and said the Blues pair accepted what Houli said.
Houli categorically denied intending to strike Lamb in the head.
"It's false, absolutely false. I've never hit anyone in my life," Houli said.
Houli leaves AFL House after receiving his two-match ban. Picture: Getty Images
The Tiger apologised via text after he obtained Lamb's number from Carlton assistant coach Tim Clarke.
Umpire Matt Stevic was called upon to deliver evidence. He wasn't the controlling umpire at the time and was about 35m away from the contest, with what he said was an unobstructed view.
Stevic believed it should have been graded careless because Houli wasn't looking at Lamb.
The last Tribunal hearing was just over a year ago, when Tom Rockliff successfully challenged a fine for striking West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis.
