Sale Sharks and La Rochelle were locked in a tight European Champions Cup battle in the north west when another French moment of madness unfolded.
A bit of pushing a shoving broke out as the match ticked towards half time with the scores 10-7 in favour of Sale.
England World Cup star Tom Curry was in the middle of it, though nothing particularly sinister was unfolding.
That was until La Rochelle hooker Pierre Bourgarit approached Curry, among a plethora of other scuffles, and grabbed his face, appearing to gouge him.
The TMO intervened at that point as replays were broadcast and referee Andrew Brace felt he had no choice but to send the hooker off late in the first half.
"You just can't do it. You can't put your hand anywhere near the eyes. He's gone!" Said an incredulous Austin Healey on commentary.
Commentator Andrew Cotter branded it: 'Madness of a Vahaamahina level,' referring to the red card that the French lock received during the Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Wales.
