Stade Francais awarded maximum points
Timisoara Saracens failed to take appropriate steps to ensure its Challenge Cup tie with Stade Francais could go ahead on Sunday (AEDT).
Stade Francais was awarded a bonus-point victory after Timisoara Saracens was found not to have taken "all appropriate steps" to ensure last weekend's European Challenge Cup clash went ahead.
The pitch at the Dan Paltinisanu Stadium was deemed unplayable on Sunday (AEDT) ahead of its meeting in Pool Five, leading to the match being called off.
A misconduct complaint was duly raised against the hosts and on Wednesday an independent disciplinary committee ruled there had been a number of mistakes made by the Romanian side.
"An independent disciplinary committee found that Timisoara Saracens had not taken all appropriate steps to prepare and protect the playing surface at the Dan Paltinisanu Stadium and that the club had breached the Tournament Rules of the 2016-17 Challenge Cup Participation Agreement," a statement read.
"The committee determined that Timisoara Saracens' preparation of the playing surface was deficient in that pitch covers were not provided, the undersoil heating system was not ready in good time and that no suitable alternative venue for the match was available.
"The committee also found that there were no exceptional circumstances and it decided to award five match points to Stade Francais Paris on the basis of a four-try bonus point result of 28-0 and imposed a fine of €30,000 on Timisoara Saracens."
Timisoara Saracens and European Professional Club Rugby have the right to appeal the decision.