Delon Armitage was found to have directed abusive language at Leicester Tigers fans © Getty Images

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Toulon fullback Delon Armitage has been suspended for 12 weeks after he was found guilty of verbally abusing Leceister fans during his side's 25-21 Champions Cup defeat earlier this month.

Armitage was alleged to have used offensive language towards spectators at Welford Road and pleaded not guilty to the charge, however, the independent disciplinary committee was satisfied that the 31-year-old had directed abusive language to home fans after the match.

The offence was Armitage's second post-match misconduct case in the last four years, meaning an extra four weeks were added to the eight-match ban sanctioned by the committee.

A European Professional Club Rugby statement read: "The misconduct complaint against Armitage was that during and after the match he was alleged to have conducted himself in an unsportsmanlike manner by making a number of comments to, or within earshot of, spectators using foul and abusive language and may have brought into disrepute the sport of rugby union, the European Rugby Champions Cup, other clubs and persons and/or EPCR.

"After considering evidence and hearing submissions on behalf of Armitage, who pleaded not guilty, and on behalf of the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, the independent disciplinary committee was not satisfied that a comment allegedly made by Armitage during the match had been made as the inconsistencies in the evidence were too great.

"However, the Committee was satisfied that Armitage had directed abusive language at Leicester Tigers supporters after the match, and while it found that his comments were provoked, the Committee decided he was guilty of misconduct."

The Toulon player will be suspended until March 8 next year, subject to appeals. He is the second player from the European champions to be charged with a misconduct offence this week, after team-mate Martin Castrogiovanni was handed a fine and suspended ban for comments he made about Leicester chief Richard Cockerill.