Leicester have lodged an official protest with tournament chiefs after their Heineken Cup exit was overshadowed by a 16th player blunder at the Liberty Stadium.
Tigers' 17-12 Pool Three defeat against the Ospreys meant they crashed out of Europe behind group winners Clermont Auvergne and the Welsh side, who both progress into this season's quarter-finals.
But the Ospreys briefly had 16 players on the pitch when their Wales and Lions full-back Lee Byrne went back on after initially going off nursing a bloodied foot.
Chaos ensued on the touchline while referee Alan Lewis rectified the situation, but not before the Ospreys had played for about a minute with 16 players.
Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler and chairman Peter Tom confirmed a complaint had been made to European Rugby Cup, although it is understood tournament rules mean the result of the match cannot be affected.
England were fined a five-figure sum during the 2003 World Cup when Dan Luger briefly appeared as a 16th player during their group victory over Samoa in Melbourne.
And that would be the likely punishment for the Ospreys - as opposed to any points deduction - if ERC rule against them.
During Byrne's second-half appearance as a 16th player he was involved in helping to thwart a menacing Leicester attack sparked by their scrum-half Ben Youngs.
Both Leicester coach Richard Cockerill and his Ospreys counterpart Scott Johnson moved to play down the incident.
But Wheeler said: "During a significant part of the game, the Ospreys had 16 players on the pitch, and he was involved in a break by Ben Youngs being stopped from developing.
"We think the interference of the 16th man was significant - you are only entitled to have 15 players on the pitch.
"We think it affected the outcome of the game. The players put their heart and soul into it out there, and they deserve to be treated fairly."
Referee Lewis could be seen berating an Ospreys touchline official when the matter was brought to his attention.
Tom added: "A serious error has been made. We are 12 years or so into the professional game, and it is time administrative procedures were sorted out.
"There has been a significant mistake that could be said to have had an impact on the game.
"People who administer the game have to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Cockerill preferred to concentrate on the rugby after seeing his team bow out after being undone by a Tommy Bowe try and 12 points from the boot of Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar.
"I am sure they (Ospreys) didn't do it purposely," he said, reflecting on the 16th player episode.
"I don't think it had a bearing on the result.
"We were beaten fair and square. I am a lover of the game, and I am sure it was a mistake by somebody.
"We are out of the tournament. We have to go back, dust ourselves off and cope with the adversity of losing.
"It was a good contest, but someone has got to lose, and it was us today. Sometimes you get the luck, sometimes you don't.
"Ospreys are a good side with quality throughout. They've got the personnel to win the tournament, but there are some good teams left and Clermont would probably be my favourites."
While Leicester bow out, the Ospreys seemingly march on, although they could clearly do without any ERC investigation that will follow Leicester's complaint.
Johnson said: "This is one for the officials. They can work it out.
"There was a call for Lee Byrne to come on and 'X' to come off - that was the instruction.
"Byrne came off as a blood bin, and maybe that's where the confusion was. You just give instructions as a coach."
As for the victory, Johnson added: "We are glad to get out of this group. There is a great history in sport of sides being successful who come out of tough pools.
"The defence in the last 15 minutes was as tough as anything you would get in international rugby.
"The last two weeks (Ospreys have played Leicester and Clermont) have been of Test match intensity."
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