*All times CAT (GMT+2)

Football | France

Wissam Ben Yedder © Action Images

Ben Yedder to appeal French ban



France prospect Wissam Ben Yedder will appeal his ban from all national teams until January 2014 for an unauthorised night out while on under-21 duty despite admitting his mistake.

The 22-year-old, the French top flight's second top scorer with nine goals, is the second of five players who spent a night at a Paris club to appeal after France midfielder Yann Mvila.

"I have been considering about it for long and I have decided to appeal the ban," Toulouse striker Ben Yedder told sports daily L'Equipe on Tuesday.

"I am fully aware I was mistaken and I face it. But I want to save my chances to be called up by France, maybe sooner (than the ban's end).

"I am ready to do whatever the appeal commission want me to in order to reduce the sanction," added Ben Yedder, who could also choose to play for Tunisia.

The five players were summoned by French soccer officials after their curfew-breaking night out between the two legs of a European Under-21 qualifying tie against Norway.

France lost 5-4 on aggregate.

"I am ashamed," Ben Yedder said. "I feel like I have betrayed French football, my coaches, the people who have been educating me since I was a child - my parents, my wife, my teammates."

Mvila, who has 22 caps, was banned from all national teams until June 30, 2014 and has already filed an appeal against the sanction.

The four others - Ben Yedder, Antoine Griezmann, Chris Mavinga and Mbaye Niang - were suspended until December 31, 2013.

Shop

Gerrard: My Autobiography
Steven Gerrard is a hero to millions, not only as the inspirational captain of Liverpool FC, but as a key member of the England team.
R118.00
Red: My autobiography
No player has been more synonymous with the glory years of Manchester United Football Club over the past two decades than right-back Gary Neville.
R195.00
The Professor: Arsene Wenger
Idealistic, passionate and scientific, Arsene Wenger led the modernisation of English football
R138.00
FIFA 13
All-new Attacking Intelligence infuses players with the most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever achieved
R564.95


Comments

More expert analysis and opinion from Sport24
The opinions expressed by Sport24 experts and bloggers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily represent those of SuperSport

Sports Talk



Dr Errol Sweeney
Why are referees explaining their decisions?
Match officials make mistakes because they are like you and me - human. However, in modern...

John Dykes
A day for sentiment, stats and hard cash
The title may have been won weeks ago and the relegation issues settled seven days back but there...

Emeka Enyadike
Beckham, most popular football star
Is David Beckham the most famous football player ever? I tweeted from my @EmekaEnyadike handle and...

Segun Odegbami
Dortmund may surprise favourites
I cannot disguise my interest in Barcelona. I never hide my love for their style of play that is...

Calvin Emeka Onwuka
Not this time Arsenal
The league title is with Robin van Persie and his Manchester United teammates. Man City have...

Neil Tovey
Khune top of the class
Kaizer Chiefs are on the verge of clinching their first league title since 2005. One man’s name is...