A video grab of the incident involving Leinster's Leo Cullen during the Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park

Alan Quinlan’s ‘eye-gouging’ incident against Leinster looks likely to cost him his place on the Lions squad for the tour to South Africa later this month.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) confirmed that Quinlan, the Munster flanker, must appear before a disciplinary panel “as soon as is practicable,” after being cited for making contact with the eye area of Leo Cullen during Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

His prospects do not look good: Martin Corry, the Leicester captain, was banned for six weeks this year for striking or making contact with the eye area of Richard Hibbard, the Ospreys hooker.

In the first half of the season, Neil Best, the Northampton flanker, was banned for 18 weeks for gouging during the Guinness Premiership game with London Wasps.

Cullen, the Leinster lock, remonstrated vigorously at the time, although neither he nor his province sought to add fuel to the flames.

This is what Paul O’Connell had to say about the incident: “Quinny isn’t that type of guy, He is a tough player. It is the one thing he hasn’t got in his record book. If it looked bad, I am sure there was nothing in it.”

Quinlan was seen to apologise at length to Cullen after the match and received support from both camps as he entered  the Leinster dressing-room to offer his congratulation.

This is what Leinster coach Michael Cheika had to say: “Quinlan is a good operator and a good guy and I have a lot of respect for him. He is a hard guy. That is the battle. Between Munster and Leinster it is a war and you have to be as aggressive as you possibly can. I can’t see him doing it.”

If Quinlan is found guilty, he will miss out on the Lions tour which realistically is his only chance. Tom Croft Leicester’s or Ryan Jones, the Wales captain, are likely replacements. Others such as England and Wasps flanker James Haskell or Scotland back-row Simon Taylor and Jason White will also be considered.

See a  video of the incident here