Review ban upsets Makelele

Paris Saint Germain skipper Claude Makelele hit out Friday at his one-match ban saying it was “unacceptable,” after French football’s disciplinary body turned a yellow card into a suspension.

Makelele said he feared that referees would go after him following a squabble between his coach Antoine Kombouare and a rival over the ability of the 36-year-old former French international midfielder.

“It’s a shame this ban comes now. It’s unacceptable. I just hope there won’t be a Makelele case.”

“I ask refs to referee me the same as anyone. It’s a bit tiring all this,” he added.

Makelele ended up at the disciplinary hearing on Thursday in the aftermath of the spat between Kombouare and Lorient coach Christian Gourcuff.

Kombouare said Gourcuff “deserves a smack in the mouth”, for claiming Makelele was “past it”.

Makelele, who joined PSG from Chelsea in 2008, had been considered fortunate to avoid a red card for a foul on Sigamary Diarra and the disciplinary committee decided to review the case.