Bernard Jackman "wouldn't say there's any risk" of Johnny Sexton being banned for World Cup matches later this year.
The Ireland captain has been accused of three counts of misconduct arising from Leinster's Champions Cup final loss to La Rochelle in Dublin last month.
Sexton approached South African referee Jaco Peyper, as well as English linesmen Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley, after the Aviva Stadium clash, which at least one of the officials has reportedly described as "intimidating".
READ MORE: Johnny Sexton's Rugby World Cup plans in doubt over "intimidating" behaviour claim
Reports emerged in recent days that Sexton could miss warm-up matches and games in the tournament itself if handed a big enough ban, but former rugby player Jackman doesn't believe he will.
The ex-Leinster and Connacht man told Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1: "We're not sure how strong this case is and certainly some of the speculation about a 24-week ban and things like that seems to be quite outlandish.
"You'd imagine the EPCR, if they are going to bring discipline into it, they would need to do it quite quickly. It's dragging on quite a long time.
"I wouldn't say there's any risk of him not being able to play in the World Cup.
"If there is going to be a disciplinary [action] I would say it'd be a fine or maybe a small suspension, maybe putting him out of warm-up games. But I think this will go away quite quickly.
"When you hear of a 24-week ban and then you see some of the suspensions that have been handed out for actual physical acts, which endanger players' safety... this was in the heat of battle, very emotional after a game Leinster lost in another Champions Cup final when they haven't won it for a while.
"I think referees, officials all understand there's emotion involved, there's a lot of passion involved.
"While it wasn't something that we condone, I think this can be dealt with pretty easily over the next week or two."
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