TNT Sports
Spitting Barthez banned
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Published 22/04/2005 at 11:34 GMT+1
Olympique Marseille and France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has been banned for six months, including three months suspended, for spitting at a referee, a Marseille spokesman said on Friday. The incident occurred during a friendly against Wydad Casablanca in
Eurosport
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Barthez will be available for France's next World Cup qualifiers against Faroe Islands on September 3, Ireland on September 7, Switzerland on October 8 and Cyprus on October 12.
He will play on Saturday against Nantes before the ban commences. Its timing is such that he will miss only four league matches and two international friendlies before returning on July 25th.
Barthez appeared on Thursday before the disciplinary committee of the French Football Federation (FFF) who passed sentence on Friday.
"The disciplinary committee took the following decisions: player Fabien Barthez has been suspended for six months including three suspended months, Olympique Marseille have been fined 1,000 euros," the FFF said without elaborating in a statement published on their website.
"I knew I'd be sanctioned," said Barthez. "I'll prepare for the next season with Olympique Marseille and get ready for the national team because my goal is to play in the (2006) World Cup."
Olympique Marseille have 10 days to appeal before the FFF appeal commission or the French National Olympic Committee but their request will not suspend the ban.
Barthez was reported for spitting at referee Abdellah El Achiri during a friendly between Wydad Casablanca and Marseille in February.
A brawl erupted on the pitch after Marseille defender Frederic Dehu was sent off with Barthez, who had been substituted, getting up off the bench and confronting the referee. The match was abandoned with 10 minutes left.
Dehu also appeared at Thursday's hearing and was cleared of all charges.
BARTHEZ DISILLUSIONED
Barthez who is the only player in the current squad who played at Euro 1996 under Aime Jacquet, has won 75 caps since his debut against Australia in May 1994,
He became first choice for the 1998 World Cup, which France won by beating Brazil 3-0 in the final, and was also a member of the side that won Euro 2000.
Born in the small town of Lavelanet in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Barthez started his club career at Toulouse before moving to Olympique Marseille in 1992, winning the European Cup the following season against AC Milan.
He moved to Monaco in 1995 before joining Manchester United in May 2000. He left them in October 2003 to return to Marseille, although he was made to wait until the January transfer window to complete the deal.
Barthez captained France for their first game under coach Raymond Domenech in a friendly against Bosnia in August 2004.
He then suggested he would not play for France again but Domenech convinced him to continue until the 2006 World Cup finals.
Last month, however, Barthez announced that he had decided to retire at the end of next season after becoming increasingly disillusioned with his sport.
"I'll call a halt in 2006 from all football," he said.
"I am 33 years old. There are not many seasons left for me...I like the world of soccer less and less. It's getting rotten. I don't have a precise example...Sometimes you're better keeping your mouth shut.
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