The 29-year-old defender was captain of France at this summer's World Cup finals in which they disappointed after crashing out at the first hurdle. Controversy reigned as players went on strike the day after Nicolas Anelka was sent home for lashing out at then manager Raymond Domenech for being played out of position. The squad took exception to Anelka's treatment and refused to train the following day in one of the most embarrassing days in the nation's footballing history. The FFF's disciplinary committee handed Manchester United left-back Evra a five-game ban for his part in the strike, although his lawyer insists nothing official has been filed and that he will appeal the sentence. "To this day, Mr Patrice Evra has not received notification of the decision by the Federal Disciplinary Commission (of the French Football Federation) on August 17 banning him from the French team for five matches," his lawyer Jean-Yves Foucard said. "Mr Patrice Evra has decided to appeal in that nothing untoward can be ascribed to him on an individual basis given that the responsibility for the said events on the (team) bus at Knysna is to all evidence collective." Foucard went on to state that the appeal would "allow Mr Laurent Blanc, the national coach, to select Mr Patrice Evra if he so wishes as the appeal is suspensive" under federation rules. However, a federation legal department spokesman insists Evra's lawyer is incorrect: "The lawyer has it all wrong. The decision was sent out and the reasons behind the punishment will be there and the disciplinary body has moreover decided to lift the suspensive element - this appeal is not suspensive." The federation's commission banned Evra and three other ringleaders of the training ground strike after finding that he had not properly carried out his duties as skipper. Anelka was banned for 18 matches - effectively ending his France career - Franck Ribery was handed a three-game ban, while Jeremy Toulalan will serve a one-game suspension. Another player, Eric Abidal, escaped a ban altogether. Blanc himself was surprised at the varying length of the bans for what he deemed a "collective act" and he called on the Commission to "explain to me if they had clear and precise criteria" behind their ruling. On the subject of Anelka, Blanc said: "I would like someone to explain to me why 18 matches, and why not 19 or 20 - it needs explaining." After the bans were first announced Blanc had said: "It's obviously not an ideal situation for French football, which will need all its top players when the qualifying games for Euro 2012 begin."
