Perpignan issue double Cup threat

Tincu received the suspension for gouging Paul James

Perpignan say they may quit the Heineken Cup and take its organisers to court after failing to overturn an 18-week ban on hooker Marius Tincu.

The Romanian was banned following an incident with Ospreys prop Paul James in the teams' Cup meeting in October.

"The committee found that Tincu had not demonstrated the original decision had been in error or should be overturned," said a European Rugby statement.

Perpignan said they may take their case to sporting and civil tribunals.

606: DEBATE Is Marius Tincu's suspension over the top?

The French side say there is no clear footage of the alleged incident, that it was "a denial of justice" and that the the tournament organisers had "quite simply rewritten the fundamental principles of European rights.

"Perpignan cannot accept the unacceptable, namely the condemnation without a shadow of proof of its player Marius Tincu," concluded the statement on the club website.

The disciplinary appeal committee, chaired by Scotland's Rod McKenzie, upheld the 18-match suspension up to and including 9 March.

European Rugby had already cleared Guilhem Guirado of gouging and banned James for one match for a retaliatory punch on Tincu.