Toulon threaten legal action against Leicester fans over Delon Armitage ban

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/18/delon-armitage-toulon-president-threatens-legal-action

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Toulon’s president, Mourad Boudjellal, claims the club may take legal action against the Leicester supporters whose testimony led to Delon Armitage being handed a 12-week suspension.

The English full-back Armitage was issued with his punishment on Wednesday evening, after it was alleged he used offensive language towards spectators at Welford Road in Toulon’s European Rugby Champions Cup match against the Tigers on 7 December.

The player pleaded not guilty to the charge. European Professional Club Rugby announced an independent disciplinary committee had been satisfied the 31-year-old had directed abuse at home fans after the game.

Reacting to the sanction, Boudjellal told La Provence newspaper: “It’s incomprehensible. This is an extraordinary decision which rests only on the allegations of two opposition supporters whose objectivity we can legitimately put in doubt.

“But there is no formal proof, no official document, not even television pictures to attest to the veracity of these testimonies. We aren’t discounting the eventuality of going after these two supporters in court for false testimonies.”

It was Armitage’s second post-match misconduct case in the past four years, meaning an extra four weeks were added to the eight-match ban sanctioned by the committee. He will be suspended until 8 March, subject to appeals.