Manchester United denounce Patrice Evra's four-match ban as 'excessive'

Manchester United reacted with outrage last night when Patrice Evra, their defender, was banned for four matches and fined £15,000 after being found guilty of improper conduct in the wake of his bust-up with a Chelsea groundsman during the so-called “Battle of the Bridge” last season.

Evra clashed with Sam Bethell during a warm-down after United’s 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Chelsea on April 26, which sparked a 30-man mêlée. An FA regulatory commission ruled that Evra had pushed Bethell, struck the groundsman on the side of the head and confronted him again, triggering another altercation with the Chelsea employee.

United condemned the suspension and indicated that the club would consider an appeal. “We are disappointed with the decision and in particular consider the sanctions against Patrice Evra excessive,” a statement read. “Manchester United and Patrice will consider all options once there has been an opportunity to digest the full reasons for the decision.”

Chelsea were fined £25,000 for failing to ensure that Bethell conducted himself in an “orderly fashion and refrained from abusive and provocative conduct and language”, although allegations that Bethell had racially insulted Evra were not proven.

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The club were also found guilty of failing to inform Bethell in his contract that he was subject to FA rules and regulations, hence the governing body’s decision to dismiss an initial charge of improper conduct against the groundsman on the basis that it had no jurisdiction over him.

“Chelsea always strenuously denied the racist allegation and that position has been totally vindicated by the FA,” the club said last night. “Chelsea has a zero-tolerance attitude towards racism and is fighting hard with the rest of football to rid all forms of discrimination from the game.

“Clearly, the incident was a regrettable one. We will be analysing the detail of the verdict before commenting further.”

Evra will miss United’s Premier League games away to Stoke City on Boxing Day and at home to Middlesbrough three days later, as well as the FA Cup third-round tie away to Southampton on January 4 and the first leg of the club’s Carling Cup semi-final.

As Evra is also banned for the league game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane a week today after picking up his fifth booking of the season last weekend, other than the Club World Cup, the France left back will not have a competitive match between the Champions League tie at home to Aalborg on Wednesday and the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford on January 11.