An independent Appeal Committee has varied an earlier decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee in relation to the citing of Leicester Tigers prop forward Marcos Ayerza from the Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Stade Francais Paris at Welford Road, on Sunday, April 1.

An independent Appeal Committee has varied an earlier decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee in relation to the citing of Leicester Tigers prop forward Marcos Ayerza from the Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Stade Francais Paris at Welford Road, on Sunday, April 1. There was no dispute that Mr Ayerza had committed an act of Foul Play, but the Appeal Committee has substituted a lower sanction than that which was imposed by the Disciplinary Committee.

The original Disciplinary Committee had found Leicester Tigers prop forward Marcos Ayerza guilty of striking Stade Français Paris back row forward Remy Martin and had suspended the player for a period of three weeks (21 days) up to and including April 30, 2007.

On appeal the suspension imposed on Mr Ayerza has been reduced from 21 days to 18 days, with the period of suspension up to and including April 27, 2007.

The Appeal Committee comprised Professor Lorne Crerar, Rod McKenzie (both Scotland) and Dr Barry O'Driscoll (Ireland).

Marcos will be unavailable for the Heineken Cup semi-final with Llanelli Scarlets and the Guinness Premiership trip to Bristol Rugby but his ban will now end before the league fixture with London Wasps on April 28.