The case will now be heard by a European Rugby Cup (ERC) disciplinary committee and if found guilty of foul play Betsen could be handed a suspension that affects his participation in the Six Nations tournament, which starts next month.

Abbott is now out for the rest of the season with a broken right tibia.

``London Wasps wish to confirm that it has submitted to ERC the appropriate citing forms in relation to an incident in the 21st minute of the game involving Biarritz Olympique player Serge Betson and Stuart Abbott,'' read a statement from the reigning European and English champions Wasps.

``London Wasps will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter until the citing officer has determined the case and any subsequent disciplinary proceedings have been concluded.''

Abbott was taken from the field after falling over Betsen's leg and landing awkwardly at Biarritz's Parc des Sports Aguilera.

The question the ERC will have to decide is whether the France international's actions constituted deliberate foul play or was simply a case of him being wrong-footed by Abbott in the build-up to the incident.

Biarritz won the match 18-15, a result that ended Wasps' defense of their title before the quarterfinals.

Biarritz president Marcel Martin said he was surprised that Wasps had gone ahead with the citing as they had said nothing immediately after the match but understood why they were doing so.

``You cannot blame them as they will want to pursue this matter for their player,'' he said.

``However I am confident that Betsen will be cleared as both the coaches (Patrice Lagisquet and Jacques Delmas) and other people at the club have seen the video and said that he didn't want to break the player's leg.''

Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper accused Betsen of a ``cynical trip'' in the headline accompanying its match report of the game.

But French giant Biarritz could have grounds for complaint after its captain Thomas Lievremont was the victim of a stamping incident, with video footage suggesting Wasps prop Tim Payne was the culprit.

However tournament regulations state that initiating the citing procedure, which is the responsibility of clubs during the European Cup, must be done within 50 hours of kick-off and Martin said he would not be doing so.

``I cannot cite the English player even if I wanted to because it has already been dealt with on the pitch by the referee,'' said Martin.