Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has defended Mathieu Bastareaud’s use of a homophobic slur against a Treviso player.

The Toulon centre called Sebastian Negri a ‘f**king faggot’ during their European Champions Cup clash.

WATCH: Toulon centre uses homophobic slur

Boudjellal told rugbyrama.fr that he feared Boudjellal would face a lengthy ban due to the alleged double standards of the EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby).

‘I’m worried,’ he said. ‘What I fear is the Mormon side of the EPCR with the Welsh and the Irish. These are people who sell morality when they do not have it. The same people who have ministers who are whipped in private but considered “clean” guys in public.

‘In my view, we’re talking about an insult that has entered common language. At no point did Mathieu Bastareaud seek to make a judgement as to the sexual orientation of the player in question. It’s like when I call someone a son of a bitch … generally, I don’t know his mother.

‘I’m not homophobic either, but I have called someone a faggot. It has entered into common usage, it’s what comes to mind first in a row. But we’re in an age in which morality has taken on a great importance. As if people are incapable of understanding that, and to take things into consideration … the only area in which humour doesn’t have a place is paedophilia. What Mathieu said was a slip in the heat of the action.’

The EPCR has launched an investigation into Boudjellal’s comments.

‘If EPCR considers that the reported comments amount to misconduct under its disciplinary rules, it may bring a disciplinary charge against Mr Boudjellal,’ read a statement.