Perpignan are threatening to pull out of the Heineken European Cup if their appeal against hooker Marius Tincu's 18-week suspension for eye-gouging falls on deaf ears. The Romania international given the heavy sanction yesterday after a hearing of the ERC's disciplinary commission.

He was found him guilty of "making contact with the eye/eye area" of Ospreys prop Paul James during a Heineken Cup Pool Three match on October 18th.

Perpignan claim there is insufficient evidence against Tincu and have labeled the punishment "grotesque".

The Catalan club, who will have New Zealand outhalf Dan Carter on their books for seven months from December, have vowed to launch an appeal and will consider quitting the tournament should it fail.

"USAP believe this decision is quite simply scandalous, even grotesque, and is based on no real fact since no image or injury to the Welsh player could establish that Marius Tincu could be blamed for this reprehensible act," read a Perpignan statement.

"It is a shameful decision worthy of a banana-boat republic where people get punished only on someone's say-so, without any material proof. USAP will use all means possible, including going in front of civil courts if necessary, to defend their player Marius Tincu and reserve the right to resort to measures which will have the heaviest consequences for the competition if the club aren't heard."

If Perpignan's appeal fails, Tincu will be banned from playing until March 10th. The French side are currently third in their group, level on five points with the second-placed Ospreys.

They have back-to-back matches against Leicester coming up in December, by which time Carter will have linked up with the squad.