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The Sharks have lost Makazole Mapimpi for their next two matches after the Springbok winger was hit with a two-week ban for "making contact with the eye area" of Bordeaux-Begles scrumhalf Maxime Lucu.
The incident happened during the Sharks' 32-3 victory over the French outfit at Kings Park last weekend.
Lucu complained to referee Luke Pearce at the time but the TMO was unable to find video evidence of the incident and play continued.
Mapimpi was subsequently cited, however, with the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) Disciplinary Committee deeming that his transgression "warranted a red card" but was on the low end of World Rugby's sanction regulations.
An initial four-week ban - the minimum sanction for the offence in question (an eye gouge can result in up to a one-year ban) - was reduced to two weeks because of the player's good disciplinary record.
It means Mapimpi will miss the Sharks' Champions Cup clash against Harlequins in London on Saturday and the URC match at Edinburgh the following Saturday.
The winger has a right to appeal the decision if he feels he was hard done by.
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