CLERMONT AUVERGNE PROP Etienne Falgoux has been banned for seven weeks for making contact with the eye area of Ulster centre Luke Marshall.
Falgoux was cited following an incident in a ruck which left Marshall holding his face during the first half of the Top 14 leaders’ 38-19 European Champions Cup victory at Stade Marcel-Michelin last Sunday.
The 23-year-old will miss Clermont’s final two Pool 5 matches after he was hit with a lengthy ban last night.
Falgoux was deemed guilty of an offence that would normally result in a ban of at least 12 weeks, but was reduced due to his “clean disciplinary record, expression of remorse and his youth and inexperience.”
The front row has the right to appeal against the decision, but will be ineligible until 20 February if he accepts the punishment.
Clermont are in command of their Champions Cup pool, holding an eight-point lead over Bordeaux-Begles and Ulster.
