​I have been really surprised by two issues that have raised their heads this week in the wake of the ‘Subgate’ Scandal.

Firstly, the criticism of Leicester Tigers for being whingers.

Leicester made an official complaint because they had to in order to get the matter investigated.

It could have been brushed off as ‘one of those things’ had Leicester not made noises.

The Heineken Cup organisers, ERC (European Rugby Cup Ltd), could have simply moved on regardless.

Why do Leicester have to make a formal complaint in this situation to get the wheels moving?

When one team have 16 men on the pitch for 70 seconds, you would think the competition organisers would want to launch a thorough and immediate investigation. Wouldn’t you?

Last season, ERC did not need to be nudged to open an inquiry into what turned out to be the Bloodgate saga.

So why did Leicester have to complain to get the wheels in motion and earn themselves the tags of whingers in this instance?

Secondly, Leicester may well have been the second-best team on the day (only just in my opinion) but that should have no relevance to the club’s desire to have the 16th man issue investigated.

So what if Leicester were second best?

Leicester were second best against the Ospreys at the same venue in 2005-6 when Dan Hipkiss scored a match-winning try in the final seconds.

If a 16th man had gone on and stopped him scoring, should Leicester have just shrugged their shoulders?

Similarly, if a 12th man came into bat and hit the winning runs in a game of cricket you had been second best at would you accept it and move on?

The rules of the competition were broken – fact.

Leicester are merely asking for the organisers to investigate how that happened.

What happened during the game in question is totally irrelevant.

This is professional sport, not a game of ‘tick’ in the playground.