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Perpignan has issued a statement expressing their stupefaction at the citing and pre-inquiry suspension of their loose forward Grégory Le Corvec for an incident in the match between Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne in Montferrand last weekend.

The accusation against Le Corvec is that, in the 53rd minute, he placed his right hand in the face of Jamie Cudmore, causing eye-gouging.

As a result Le Corvec is to appear before an iniquity of Ligue Nationale de Rugby's disciplinary committee on 24 March and till then is suspended from rugby.

Perpignan has called the suspension scandalous for the player has been found guilty before even an examination of the video evidence. and claims that the video evidence suggests that Le Corvec made no contact at all with Cudmore's eyes. After the incident Cudmore, who wears contact lenses, did not even put his hand to his face.

Perpignan further complain that the citing commissioner ignored two other incidents in the match when their players were the subjects of aggression. These happened in the 12th and 31st minutes and left Le Corvec with a broken nose. The evidence of this is clear on the video of the match. They find it strange that their player is punched twice with clear video evidence and then is cited for eye-gouging when there is no video evidence.

Perpignan spokesman Paul Goze said: We have the distinct impression that we are not been treated as other teams. I say now that we have had enough.  If it is upsetting that Perpignan is the champion of France, we should be told so,

"We shall obviously defend Grégory with ever means at our disposal and we shall make public the video evidence which the citing commissioner refuses to look at. We will use every means in our power to fight against this farce and the bias involved even if it means going to court to be heard."