Barthez waiting on ban decision
Marseille's former Manchester United keeper Fabien Barthez may have his three-month ban for spitting at a Moroccan referee doubled on Thursday.
The French Football Federation has appealed against its own disciplinary commission's decision to suspend half of the mandatory six-month sentence.
The February game with Wydad Casablanca was stopped after the incident.
France keeper Barthez, 33, had said he would retire after the 2006 World Cup but a longer ban may change his plans.
Barthez, who has won 73 caps for France, could miss some of his nations World Cup qualifiers if his suspension is increased.
His lawyer Philippe Pech de Laclause has insisted that there is nothing in the French federation's rules to suggest that a six-month ban for the offence was automatic.
The initial punishment was rubber-stamped on 22 April.
Barthez ban for spitting extended
Marseille's ex-Manchester United keeper Fabien Barthez has had his ban for spitting at Moroccan referee Abdellah El Achiri extended until 31 December.
He had been banned for six months, with three suspended, but the French Football Federation appealed against its disciplinary commission's decision. "The appeal committeee handed Fabien Barthez a suspension until December 2005," the FFF said on their website.
The sanction would be cut to 15 October if Barthez agreed to do community work.
The February game between Marseille and Wydad Casablanca was stopped after the incident.
The initial punishment was rubber-stamped on 22 April.
