Wednesday 28 February 2018 17:29, UK
Scotland forward Ryan Wilson has been cleared of making contact with the eye area of England's Nathan Hughes during his team's Calcutta Cup triumph on Saturday.
The Glasgow captain is free to play in Scotland's final Six Nations matches against Ireland and Italy after a citing for alleged foul play was dismissed at a disciplinary hearing in London.
Television cameras caught the back rows clashing off the ball with Wilson, who was pinned to the floor, raking his right hand across the side of Hughes' face.
Wilson would have faced a minimum four-week ban if the panel had found him guilty.
A Six Nations disciplinary committee found that Wilson had committed an act of foul play in that two of his fingers made contact with the eye area of Hughes, but they accepted medical evidence presented on the player's behalf.
"Due to a pre-existing injury, two of his fingers (his fourth and little finger on his right hand) were involuntarily in a bent or hooked position," read a statement.
"The disciplinary committee also considered that the contact with the eye area had been reckless (rather than intentional), light and fleeting, and had come about as a result of the player's attempts to grab his opponent's shirt during an off-the-ball scuffle with his opponent.
"After careful consideration, the disciplinary committee did not conclude that the foul play had warranted a red card, and the citing was not upheld.
"No sanction was imposed and the player is free to resume playing immediately."
Scotland's next fixture is against Six Nations leaders Ireland in Dublin on March 10. They conclude their campaign seven days later away to Italy.
