The Munster flanker Alan Quinlan has been cited for allegedly making contact with the eye or eye area of the Leinster captain, Leo Cullen, in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park.

The independent citing commissioner, John Byett, decided that Quinlan has a case to answer after television cameras appeared to catch him making contact with Cullen's right eye during the match which Munster lost, 25–6.

Quinlan, 34, has been called to appear before a European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel, which is to be appointed "as soon as is practicable".

Last month, Quinlan was selected for the British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa, starting later this month, despite not featuring for Ireland in the Six Nations Championship.

If Quinlan is found guilty of the offence he will face a minimum 12-week suspension.

Earlier this season the Northampton and Ireland flanker Neil Best received an 18-week ban and in 2007 the Saints hooker Dylan Hartley was suspended for 26 weeks.

If suspension was to rule Quinlan out of the Lions tour, the head coach, Ian McGeechan, could look to the England and Leicester flanker Tom Croft or the Wales captain, Ryan Jones.

Cullen remonstrated with Quinlan at the time of the incident in question but he was not prepared to comment after the final whistle at Croke Park.

Quinlan, however, received glowing character references from his Munster and Lions captain, Paul O'Connell, and the Leinster coach, Michael Cheika.

O'Connell did not see the alleged incident but said after the game: "If it looked bad I am sure there was nothing in it.

"He is a tough player. It is the one thing he hasn't got in his record book."