FRANCE centre Mathieu Bastareaud apologised today after being cited for appearing to direct homophobic abuse at a Benetton player during Toulon’s 36-0 European Champions Cup win.

The centre could miss the Six Nations after being charged with verbal abuse of a player, which carries a ban ranging from six weeks to a year. France kick off their campaign against Ireland on February 3.

The incident happened in the last minute of the match, when Bastareaud appeared to call Italy forward Sebastian Negri a “fucking faggot.”

Bastareaud wrote on Twitter: “I want to apologise [for] my response to the insults of the Italian player. I reacted badly in responding to his provocation, I am sincerely sorry for the people I hurt.”

Former England fly-half Andy Goode, who was commentating on the game, tweeted: “Absolutely disgusting and no place for it anywhere. I hope Champions Cup make an example of Bastareaud and ban him for a long time.”