Moody handed nine-week ban

The flanker was suspended after being sent off for punching in the win over Samoa at Twickenham last weekend.

But as England are out of action until the Six Nations in February, Moody will only miss Leicester fixtures.

"If an incident like that happens for Leicester I fully expect the banning to happen at Leicester," Howard said.

"It is unfair that Lewis threw the punch with England but will pay the price by not playing for Leicester."

By the time we get to the end of the Six Nations, Lewis will have played two games for the club this season Leicester coach Pat Howard

Howard also believes that rugby union should follow football and ban players for a number of games, not a length of time.

"In football you are banned for a certain amount of matches," he added on Radio Five Live. "That would really make you think twice.

"If the authorities want to stop a player doing things like that at international level, ban him from internationals.

"I am sure that if Lewis was banned for nine international matches then that would significantly affect his thinking on throwing a punch next time."

It is not the first time that Moody has been in disciplinary trouble this season.

In September, he was suspended for six weeks for striking an opponent during an 'A' game against Leeds.

"By the time we get to the end of the Six Nations, Lewis will have played two games for the club this season," added Howard. "There is a massive impact there.

"We will have to deal with that and try and make sure that Lewis realises he is going to be a little bit of target now and that he will have to be whiter than white.

"Players go through this and referees look them and as a consequence he will have to now realise his role within a game and within a team."