Rugby:Stade Francais players David Attoub and Julien Dupuy have both been cited and are due to appear before an ERC Independent Disciplinary Hearing after alleged incidents during last Saturday's Heineken Cup Pool 4 defeat to Ulster at Ravenhill.
Stade’s replacement prop Attoub and scrumhalf Dupuy were both citied by the game’s citing commissioner Tony Lanaway for separate incidents where alleged contact with the eye / eye area of Ulster’s Stephen Ferris took place which contravenes Law 10.4 (l).
Ferris felt he was targeted in the latter stages of the game, and although he has no issue with the physical side of the game, he takes issue when it comes to attempted gouging.
“I didn’t know who it was when I was on the ground,” said Ferris. “I felt numerous fingers in my eyes. You’re just fuming. I was furious. I was trying to grab a hold of his fingers to see who it was.
“There was argy bargy throughout the game and I don’t mind that. Rugby is a physical game. I’d hate to get anyone cited and if someone hit me a dig in the jaw, I’d take it and get on with the game but not when someone goes for your eyes.
Punishments can vary from 12-week bans up to a maximum of three years.
If found guilty it means Dupuy, the first choice scrumhalf for France, could miss next year’s Six Nations championship.
The independent judicial officer still has to be appointed.
Ulster are due to take on Stade in the return leg in Brussels on Saturday with both teams level on nine points at the top of Pool 4.
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