Stade's Attoub facing lengthy ban over gouging Ferris

STADE FRANCAIS prop David Attoub faces a lengthy ban for gouging during a Heineken Cup game.

Judicial officer Jeff Blackett yesterday found an act of foul play did occur in that Attoub made contact with the eye/eye area of Ulster and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris last month.

Blackett had adjourned Attoub’s hearing on December 18, imposing an immediate interim suspension on the player, who was reported by match citing commissioner Tony Lanaway.

The hearing was reconvened earlier this week, when Blackett heard evidence from both Attoub and Ferris, but any sanction will not be decided until a later date.

Attoub’s Stade team-mate Julien Dupuy was given a 24-week suspension – reduced to 23 weeks on appeal – for a gouging offence on Ferris in the same match at Ravenhill.

Former Leicester scrum-half Dupuy cannot play again until May.

Stade, meanwhile, resume their Heineken Cup campaign against Bath in Paris today, when they need a victory to stay on course for the quarter-finals.