France news

M'Vila set to appeal suspension

November 14, 2012
By Fabien Perrin, France Correspondent

Yann M'Vila intends to launch an appeal after the France Football Federation (FFF) banned him from international action until the summer of 2014, his lawyer has said.

Yann M'Vila
GettyImagesYann M'Vila now plays for Rubin Kazan

• Lawyer: M'Vila is a scapegoat

M'Vila, 22, was banned for 19 months after he, along with four France Under-21 team-mates, broke a curfew ahead of the Euro 2013 play-off with Norway.

The Rennes midfielder, who has 22 caps for France but has not featured under current coach Didier Deschamps, is set to appeal the sanction despite the risk the ban could be extended.

His lawyer, Maitre Thierry Fillion, told RTL: ''The notification of the decision is set to be issued on Wednesday or Thursday. When Yann M'Vila receives this notification, we will probably appeal.

"When we appeal, we take a risk, but in this case, given the extreme severity of the sanction, the risk is really limited."

Mbaye Niang, Wissam Ben Yedder, Chris Mavinga and Antoine Griezmann were all banned until December 31, 2013, for their part in the incident. L'Equipe reports that Niang's lawyer, Maitre Khalid Ouadi, is also considering an appeal.