A rugby player could be banned from the sport for eight matches, over allegations of homophobic abuse.

Lee Paterson, who plays as centre for the Batley Bulldogs faces a Grade E charge of using homophobic abuse against another player.

He was sent off 72 minutes into his side’s game against Leigh Centurions on Sunday, after an altercation with a player.

Next Tuesday he will face the Rugby Football League’s diciplinary panel, and could face a ban of 4 to 8 matches.

Despite the incident, the Leigh Centurions won the Kingstone Press Championship match by 36-6.

Leeds Rhinos star Zak Hardaker was handed a five match ban in June, after calling a player a “f**king faggor”.

Though Hardaker declined to appeal the ban, his coach Brian McDermott claimed there was no homophobia in rugby whatsoever.

He clamed: “’[Zak]’s really upset that he’s getting accused of being homophobic. He’s been found guilty of using offensive language and causing offence.

“To inaccurately tar a young man with that is irresponsible.

“There is absolutely no homophobia in our sport.”