Bachar Houli will miss four weeks after the AFL successfully appealed its own Tribunal’s decision and doubled the Richmond player’s initial suspension.

Houli was sent straight to the tribunal on Tuesday night and was banned for two matches for an off-the-ball shot that knocked out Carlton’s Jed Lamb.

But the AFL launched an appeal over the sanction, arguing it was “manifestly inadequate”. Now the playmaker will miss four key matches as Richmond tries to secure its place inside the top eight.

In seeking a longer ban, the AFL’s legal counsel Andrew Woods argued the original penalty was too lenient, that there was an error of law when the Tribunal made its judgement, and that an officiating body acting reasonably could not have come to that decision.

The argument worked and Houli will now miss four weeks of football.

In handing down the four-match ban, board chairman Peter O’Callaghan QC said the tribunal had erred in law.

“Undoubtedly, he is deserving of the highest praise,” O’Callaghan said of Houli.

“But that cannot and should not distract from the objective fact that the strike was high and resulted in (Lamb) being made unconscious and quite unable to play out the match.

“A blow from a person of exemplary character has the same effect as a blow from a person of bad character.”

The leniency of the punishment forced the AFL to act, with the league’s general manager of football operations, Simon Lethlean, stunningly appealing the “manifestly inadequate” decision.

The extended ban means Houli also misses Richmond’s round-18 match against top side GWS, as well as the game against Brisbane the week before.

“The decision has been made and I accept it,” Houli said after the hearing.

“My concern is and always has been for Jed and I hope he recovers really quick.

“The other thing is we move on with life and I will do my best to help the team prepare for the next few games.”

Lethlean also made a statement: “The appeals board tonight has reinforced the AFL’s position on the importance of protecting the head and the health and safety of our players.

“I am satisfied with that result.”

Lethlean also praised Houli: “He’s a leader in our game, a player and a person of great integrity.

“His remorse for his actions were clear after the completion of the match.”

High-profile referees

Sensationally citing references from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly, among others, Houli was judged as a “fine character” by the panel.

And that was their reasoning for giving Houli a two-week ban, a decision that sparked outrage.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire slammed the verdict, describing it as “ridiculous”.

“It [off-field character] should not be taken into account,” he told Triple M.

Lamb lays motionless after the hit. Photo: Getty

“Now that we are starting to look at what people do in their private lives in giving a suspension for what happens on the ground … [it] is totally ridiculous and out of control. This is a precedent.

“You can be Mother Teresa but if you knock somebody out on the ground, you get four weeks. Simple as that.”