Barthez banned but available for qualifiers
Friday, 22 April 2005 16:46Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has been banned for three months for spitting at a referee, meaning he will be available for France's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Barthez yesterday appeared before the disciplinary committee of the FFF who passed sentence today. The sanction will take effect on Monday.
"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.
Barthez will be available for his country's next Group Four World Cup qualifiers against Faroe Islands on September 3, Ireland on September 7, Switzerland on October 8 and Cyprus on October 12.
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.
Last month 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."
