Lions trip on line as Quinlan faces ‘gouge’ probe

ALAN QUINLAN’S Lions dreams were left hanging by a thread last night as the ERC confirmed the Munster flanker will face an Independent Disciplinary Committee hearing following an alleged eye-gouging incident during the second half of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

TV pictures appeared to show Quinlan making contact with the eye area of Leinster captain, Leo Cullen, and the match citing commissioner, John Byett, yesterday decided to cite the player. No date is set for the hearing yet.

Historically officials take a dim view of gouging and, if found guilty by a three-man committee that is yet to be confirmed, Quinlan is all but certain to miss the forthcoming Lions tour to South Africa.