Prop Marcos Ayerza has been handed a three-week ban after being found guilty of striking an opponent during Leicester Tigers' Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Stade Francais.
Tigers head coach Pat Howard and head of rugby operations Simon Cohen accompanied Argentina international Ayerza to the hearing by an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin on Tuesday.
The hearing followed a citing by citing commissioner Rob Flockhart for alleged punching/striking an opponent - contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
The independent disciplinary committee found Ayerza guilty of striking Stade Français back-row forward Remy Martin in the Heineken Cup game on April 1 and suspended the player for three weeks, up to and including April 30. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the hearing. Both parties have the right to appeal.
Cohen said: "We believe Marcos has been dealt with very harshly and we will be considering an appeal very seriously."
Ayerza had already been suspended by Tigers for eight days following an internal disciplinary hearing which would mean sitting out the EDF Energy Cup Final against the Ospreys on Sunday. He is now also set to miss the Heineken Cup semi-final against Llanelli Scarlets on April 21, and Guinness Premiership dates with Bristol and London Wasps before the end of April.
Tigers head coach Pat Howard and head of rugby operations Simon Cohen accompanied Argentina international Ayerza to the hearing by an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin on Tuesday.
The hearing followed a citing by citing commissioner Rob Flockhart for alleged punching/striking an opponent - contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
The independent disciplinary committee found Ayerza guilty of striking Stade Français back-row forward Remy Martin in the Heineken Cup game on April 1 and suspended the player for three weeks, up to and including April 30. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the hearing. Both parties have the right to appeal.
Cohen said: "We believe Marcos has been dealt with very harshly and we will be considering an appeal very seriously."
Ayerza had already been suspended by Tigers for eight days following an internal disciplinary hearing which would mean sitting out the EDF Energy Cup Final against the Ospreys on Sunday. He is now also set to miss the Heineken Cup semi-final against Llanelli Scarlets on April 21, and Guinness Premiership dates with Bristol and London Wasps before the end of April.
