Bath have called on European Champions Cup organisers to have their game against Toulouse replayed due to “negligence” by the match officials.
The Premiership outfit suffered a 22-20 defeat to the Top 14 side in last Pool 1 opener.
Bath were on course to win the match but for a showboating blunder from Freddie Burns where he failed to ground the ball correctly under the posts.
However, Bath’s owner Bruce Craig’s complaint is focused on two other incidents. The first one involves the referee, Andrew Brace, blowing the final whistle with a few seconds left in the match after Bath won a lineout deep inside Toulouse territory.
Bath insist there was still enough time for the lineout to take place and for them to attempt a winning score.
Their other complaint is that Toulouse duo Jerome Kaino (back-row) and Lucas Pointud (front-row) were both cited after the fixture and suspended by a disciplinary tribunal for foul play.
Bath feel that if the pair been punished properly on the field they would have both received red cards, with the French sife finishing the match with 13 players.
“I think the game should be replayed,” Craig told The Times.
“We will do what we can to get equity.”
Bath have written to the tournament organisers, European Professional Club Rugby [EPCR], and requested a rematch.
“This is the European Cup, there are massive sporting and financial implications,” said Craig.
“Bath have been majorly disadvantaged.
“This isn’t sour grapes, because maybe we wouldn’t have won the game, but that is not the issue.”
Kaino’s hit on Jamie Roberts led to the Bath centre leaving the field. The All Black was yellow carded but he was handed a five-week suspension after a disciplinary hearing earlier this week.
Pointud struck Nathan Catt with a shoulder but remained on the field but received four-week suspension later on.
“There is a player welfare issue here,” said Craig.
“In terms of his gross negligence, the referee is endangering the player.”