EDMUND VAN ESBECK/On Rugby: Since the Heineken European Cup was inaugurated in 1995, it has fulfilled the objective set out by the visionaries such as Tom Kiernan and Vernon Pugh, who worked so hard to put the competition in place.

They were not always appreciated. It has produced some great matches and occasions, and as a level of spectator appeal second only to the internationals.

From an Irish perspective it has been very good for the game here and the Irish provinces have played a very significant part in the great success story that is the European Cup. It is especially unfortunate then that it is being tarnished by decisions that are as selective as they are unfair.

Ulster's great victory in 1999 has been followed by Munster's great efforts and achievements over the last three years even if as yet the province has failed to win the trophy. This season, too, Leinster gave some outstanding performances before losing to Leicester.

The ineffeciency of a touch judge in Lille last season and the absence of a video referee cost Munster a place in the final last season.

Lille was the venue decreed by European Rugby Cup (ERC) for that semi-final against Stade Francais. It proved to be totally unsuitable in so many respects, not least the chaos at the airport as Munster's faithful thousands yet again went in support of their team.

Remember we were told by ERC that a similar error would not be made again and that there would be an awarness of and consideration for the needs of travelling supporters. That was the "promise and the guarantee" made after the disaster of Lille by the ERC chief executive Derek McGrath.

By forcing Munster to play Castres in Beziers in the semi-final this season, Munster have been sacrificed on the altar of French expediency, stitched up by collusion in France. Asking the team and its supporters to travel to so inconvenient a venue is a telling indictment on ERC and its chairman Jean-Pierre Lux. The ERC can attempt to put any spin they like on it. Some of the statments that have emanated from the ERC are pathetic.

Now Beziers is fertile rugby territory that I have had the pleasure of visiting. But the decision to play the match there is absolutely disgraceful as is what preceded the decision.

Lyons was the venue pencilled in, in the event of a team being draw away to Castres. But then when Castres got the home venue, Lyons was not available because there is a soccer match scheduled for the ground a week after the semi-final, that mind you in late spring. The much maligned Lansdowne Road can have a rugby international played on a Saturday and five days later a soccer international in the depth of winter.

Is it any wonder that the Munster manager, Jerry Holland, has said: "So incensed are we at the way we have been, and are being treated, we contemplated refusing to travel to Beziers and accept the consequences. But that would be unfair on a team and that has given so much to the European Cup.

"We did not want any preferential treatment," said Holland. "All we wanted and asked for was a fair deal for the team and our supporters. We have not got that. I can fully understand just why people have not got confidence in the ERC. We have got great support from the IRFU, but have been treated with contempt by ERC."

THE airport in Beziers does not have the capacity to deal with the influx of supporters. But of course the ERC media manager, Diarmuid Murphy, tells us the supporters can fly into Perpignan, to Montpellier and elsewhere. They can even go through London.

"Perpigan," he said "is just an hour away from Beziers by road." No problem then. Well having travelled that road from Perpignan to Beziers in the past, if anyone can make the journey, especially on a matchday, in an hour they should be in Formula One.

Munster cannot or could not get a suitable hotel in Beziers as the only suitable one had already been booked by Castres. Now that was real foresight. "We did not want five-star luxury," said Jerry Holland " just an hotel capable of catering for our needs.

"I was sent a list of so called suitable hotels by Derek McGrath; they were not suitable. One was at least an hour from Castres. We do not want to have to undergo a coach trip of any length en route to the match. Our views about the venue were made known to ERC well in advance of the draw. They have been completely disregarded. We would have been happy to play in Toulouse. That is even closer to Castres than Beziers, but it has the airport and the facilities that Beziers just does not have. But like everything else that was ignored. I travelled to Beziers a few weeks ago to try and get a suitable hotel and make final arrangements. I have to go back there again this weekend and try again."

Holland poured scorn on the invitation issued to the rugby correspondents of the Irish newspapers to spend this weekend in Beziers. "Will thousands of our supporters be there this weekend trying to get to Beziers and get accommodation there. I have total contempt for that kind of activity by ERC." he said.

There is also immense anger at the decision by ERC to lift the 12 months suspension imposed on Castres player Ismaelia Lassissi for the bite on Peter Clohessy's arm. That appeal was heard two days before Munster played Stade Francais in Paris and neither Holland nor Clohessy could attend.

And following the lifting of the suspenson we got this little gem. "It could not be proved in all certainty that it was caused by a human bite." Perhaps they had a few ferrets on the field in Castres that day. "After our match against Castres," said Holland, " Jean-Pierre Lux, who is a dentist by profession, came into our dressingroom and saw the bite marks on Peter's arm.

"There is another issue, too, about which we are unhappy. Castres accused Peter Clohessy of racial abuse, but did not proceed with the charge. Such an unsubstantiated and untrue accusation is appalling, but as yet we have not heard a word from either Lux or the chief executive on that issue. Surely such an unsubstantiated accusation brings the game into disrepute."

As Holland stated, is it any wonder that people have no confidence in the ERC as currently constituted.