It is a teachable moment. One that is very important for a post legal low trust society.
Jennings was the target. The actions were going to keep going in order for Jennings to not get his record. So in order to have some semblance of order, you remove the target.
Not because of rules, but because to keep him in risked a further altercation with men who can break the refs like a twig.
In a few years, you will see refs at the pro level get injured and the view be “Well, that zebra deserved it!”
You can not enforce rules in a society like ours is becoming. You can only curry favor.
Again, a very important lesson.
You sure got that right. My sentiments exactly.