Ulster prop John Afoa will miss Ulster's Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh later this month due to suspension.
Tournament organisers announced a four-week ban for the New Zealand international following a disciplinary hearing in Dublin.
Afoa was cited for a dangerous tackle on Munster full-back Felix Jones during the second period of last Sunday's Heineken quarter-final in Limerick.
The complaint was made by citing commissioner Peter Larter.
Independent judicial officer Jean-Nöel Couraud heard evidence and submissions from Afoa, who pleaded not guilty to foul play.
The judicial officer also heard evidence and submissions from ERC disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor.
The judicial officer upheld the citing complaint and found that the offence warranted a red card, and employing the IRB recommended sanctions for Law 10.4, he determined that the offence was at the mid-range entry point of six weeks.
In reference to the IRB’s directive on this pattern of offending, he then added a further one week as a deterrent.
Having then considered the mitigating factors, including the player’s clean record, good character, age and experience, the judicial officer allowed a reduction of three weeks, before imposing a suspension of four weeks.
