Mahashe in the clear after Munster spitting claim shot down

Lions flanker Siba Mahashe has been cleared of spitting in his team’s clash with Munster on Saturday.

In the 61st minute of the match, Munster replacement hooker Diarmuid Barron went to the referee, Andrea Piardi, saying that Mahashe had spat in his face.

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Piardi immediately went to the TMO, and despite a five-minute search of television replays for the incident, nothing was found.

Piardi explained to the captains that the match had to go on, and if there was an incident, it was now in the hands of the citing commissioner.

On Monday afternoon, the commissioner ruled that there was no evidence to cite Mahashe for spitting, ruling:

The video evidence is inconclusive, and there is no clear and obvious spitting action by Lions No 6.

The audio statement by Munster No 16 is clear, and he states that Lions No 6 spat into his mouth, but the audio statement from Lions No 6 contradicts this, and he states that he had trouble with his gum shield after the upright contact before the ruck. He categorically denied the accusation of spitting.

As there is no video evidence to support the accusation, I am of the opinion that a citing is not feasible in this case.

Do you think that Mahashe was targeted intentionally, or was it a genuine error by the Munster replacement?