England prop Kyle Sinckler has been cited for an alleged eye-gouging incident in Harlequins' Premiership defeat at Northampton on Saturday.
Sinckler was accused of the offence by Michael Paterson following an incident that took place in the 49th minute, but referee Luke Pearce decided replay footage was inconclusive and awarded a penalty only for removing the Saints lock's scrum cap.
The entry-level sanction for making contact with the eye and/or eye area is a 12-week suspension, threatening the combustible British and Irish Lions tighthead's involvement in England's autumn series against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.
Sinckler must appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in Bristol on Tuesday evening.
