French flanker Macalou suspended for three weeks

Stade Francais international Sekou Macalou has been suspended for three weeks after receiving a red card in the Champions Cup match against English side Saracens, the competition's disciplinary committee said on Thursday.

The 29-year-old flanker was sent off in the 22nd minute for a diving tackle to the head of Saracens scrum-half Ivan Van Zyl, the French side going on to lose the match 28-17.

Macalou, who has 20 caps for France, will be eligible to play again from 6 January so can feature in the third round of Champions Cup matches against Northampton.

He will, however, miss Stade Francais' next three Top 14 matches against Perpignan, Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles.

Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall was also suspended for three weeks after forking Toulon's Facundo Isa.

However, he will not be free to play until 10 January, so will miss Glasgow's Cup matches against Edinburgh at Hampden this Sunday and at Murrayfield on 28 December, as well as their Champions Cup meeting with Racing 92 on 10 January.