Perpignan hooker Marius Tincu on Friday had his appeal against a four-month ban for gouging dismissed, throwing into doubt his club`s future participation in the European Cup.

Tincu, a 30-year-old Romanian, was banned following French club Perpignan`s 15-9 European Cup win over Welsh side Ospreys after being found guilty of poking his fingers into the eyes of prop Paul James.

Tournament organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) handed down an 18-week ban on Tincu, and that was upheld Friday by an independent appeals committee.

The committee `found that Marius Tincu had not demonstrated that the original decision had been in error, or that it should be overturned or varied, and accordingly the Appeal Committee dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension imposed on the player of eighteen weeks`.

Tincu will be eligible to play again on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Perpignan initially reacted furiously to Tincu`s ban, calling it `grotesque, scandalous and shameful`, claiming there was no clear footage of the incident.

The Catalan club said it could go to the civil courts should an appeal fall on deaf ears and also threatened to withdraw from the European Cup.

All Black outside-half Dan Carter is set to join up with Perpignan next month, having shunned Tana Umaga-coached Toulon specifically in order to play European Cup rugby.