The former Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan has described the three-week bans that have ruled out hooker Ross Ford and lock Jonny Gray for the rest of the World Cup as a "sick joke".
Ford and Gray were handed the bans for clearing out Jack Lam at a ruck during Scotland's pool win over Samoa last weekend.
A team spokesman expressed "disappointment" at the ban, and Scotland are considering an appeal pending a review of the judgment.
Former winger Logan contrasted the bans with an off-field yellow card handed to Australia's David Pocock for a knee in the back of Wales hooker Scott Baldwin, and a one-match ban handed to the Irish flanker Sean O'Brien for punching a French opponent.
Scotland play Australia in the last of the quarter-finals at Twickenham on Monday morning.