Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp and star player Charlotte Caslick have blasted the lenient three-match ban handed down to Alev Kelter after the USA Eagles centre was found guilty of physical abuse and stamping during last week’s Test.

Kelter, 34, was shown a red card by referee Aimee Barrett-Theron for stomping on the head of Wallaroos outside centre Georgina Friedrichs in the 79th minute during her side’s 27-19 loss in Canberra, with the experienced official describing it as an act of “thuggery”.

“Twelve blue is going to get a permanent red card,” said Barrett-Theron after the referee blew time off and called on the Television Match Official to bring up a replay of the incident.

“She’s clearly stamped on the head of the Australian player. That’s reckless, that’s dangerous and she’s going off.”

Former Wallaby and respected pundit Morgan Turinui described the incident as “disgusting” on Stan Sport’s Between two Posts program.

“The only time you see that in the game is when you’re on Instagram and your algorithm throws you 1970s French rugby in Castres or something, or you’re seeing something at Crosby Park in the 70s,” he said.

“They will throw as much as they can, it’s high end danger and foul play, it’s as high as you can go. It could be 18 down to 12 [weeks].”

Alev Kelter stamped on Georgina Friedrichs’ head repeatedly after being brought down by the Wallaros centre at GIO Stadium on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

But an independent Disciplinary Committee chaired by Michael Heron KC (New Zealand) and joined by former international players Becky Essex (England) and Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand) found that Kelter “did not intend to contact the head” and that it was a “glancing” blow.

“On careful review of the footage, and considering the player’s evidence and submission, the Committee found that the player was not deliberately targeting the head of the Australian player, but rather was reckless in her actions (as she accepted),” the panel ruled.

“The contact to the head was glancing or grazing rather than direct and targeted. The Committee was not satisfied that the player looked down and was aware she was contacting the head of the Australian player.”

As such, the panel determined the incident met a mid-range threshold and slapped her with a six-week ban.

But after considering the “player’s disciplinary record, early acknowledgment of foul play and her clear remorse”, the panel reduced the ban to three matches.

Kelter, a three-time Olympian and a 29-Test veteran, argued that she was not aware of where Fredrichs’ head was and that she was fearful of rupturing her knee after hearing a noise.

“I was aware that Georgie was on the ground beneath me, but I could not see where Georgie’s head was and my foot must have made incidental contact with her head,” she said in evidence submitted to World Rugby.

“My fear about my knee and the position that I was in that moment impacted my actions. I feel shame and remorse that my leg movement was reckless and I am relieved that Georgie was able to finish the game.”

But making the ruling all the more extraordinary was that Kelter engaged in some push and shove immediately on the Wallaroos after the ball-carrying incident.

The Roar also understands it took two days for Kelter to apologise.

Alev Kelter reacts after being involved in a stomping incident against the Wallaroos in Canberra. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Nonetheless, Kelter will miss only one Test, the Eagles’ final Pacific Four Series clash against the Black Ferns this weekend.

On Wednesday, the Wallaroos expressed their surprise, with Yapp visibly uncomfortable with the outcome when talking to the media at her team announcement for Friday’s final Pacific Four Series clash against Canada in Brisbane.

“Firstly, ‘G-Fred’ is good,” Yapp said. “She’s fairly lucky not to have a more serious injury.

“In terms of the ban, I’m surprised it wasn’t more. I’ve seen more given for incidents in the past.”

Asked whether they would challenge the decision, Yapp said they would keep their power dry.

“We’ve seen the report and … the chain of events that led to it, and we’ll have to sit with that now.”

Jo Yapp and Charlotte Caslick have expressed their surprise at a light punishment for Alev Kelter. (Photo by Robbie Stephenson/Getty Images)

Her delicate response wasn’t matched by Caslick, who admitted she wasn’t satisfied by the outcome of the incident and described it as “hectic” and “savage”.

“I’d probably say not really,” she said. “I think everyone’s been shocked that it’s only been three weeks.

“Obviously, it was a pretty hectic incident, but I don’t know the details that they go into in the judiciary meetings, so I can’t comment on that. But I feel like it was pretty savage. Poor Georgie was a bit banged up after it.”

Caslick added: “She’s very tough on the field, but she’s a really nice person off it. I haven’t nothing bad to say about her off it.

“I’ve played against her for my whole career, but she does have a few yellow cards, red cards,” she quipped.

The Wallaroos will play the USA at this year’s World Cup in England.

Meanwhile, Yapp made four changes to her starting XV for their tough match-up against the world No.2 nation, including a brand new front-row.

Caslick, one of women’s sevens greatest players and a 2016 Olympic gold medallist, will also shift to inside centre for the Test.