Bergamasco banned for Byrne gouge
Italy back-row Mauro Bergamasco has been handed a 13-week ban after pleading guilty to gouging.
The Stade Francais flanker was "found to have deliberately placed his finger in the right eye of Lee Byrne" by a Six Nations disciplinary committee.
The incident happened when Bergamasco clashed with the Wales full-back on the final whistle of Wales' 47-8 home win.
At a separate hearing Italy lock Carlo Del Fava was found not guilty of kneeing Stephen Jones in the head.
Del Fava can now line up for Ulster against Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday and has also been recalled to the Italy squad preparing to face France on March 9 after he and Bergamasco were left out as a precaution by coach Nick Mallett.
Bergamasco, who has the right of appeal, will be able to resume playing on 2 June and could easily have picked up a more severe ban.
As it is the 28-year-old will miss Italy's final two Six Nations matches, a week on Sunday in Paris and then the home game against Scotland on 15 March, plus what should be the remainder of Stade Francais' season.
His ban will start on 3 March, the date Bergamasco is expected to recover from a shoulder injury suffered in Cardiff.
The three-man disciplinary committee, chaired by Christopher Quinlan QC (England) and also comprising Dr Barry O'Driscoll (Ireland) and Mike Rafter (England) took into account the player's admission of guilt and "other mitigating factors".
Byrne had scored two of Wales' five tries at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday in an excellent all-round performance.
Story from BBC SPORT:
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