Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri was handed a three-match ban from the French national team on Friday following a French Football Federation investigation into his behaviour during Euro 2012. Nasri was punished for shouting “Shut your mouth” to television cameras following his goal in the 1-1 group-stage draw with England in a tirade he later said was aimed at a journalist who wrote a critical article. He then directed a string of foul-mouthed insults at an AFP journalist after the quarter-final defeat to Spain in Donetsk. Jeremy Menez, of Paris Saint-Germain, was given a one-match international ban following a spat with captain Hugo Lloris in the game against Spain and for insulting the referee after the same match. In addition, Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M’Vila, of Rennes, were both issued with warnings.
Nasri, Mvila and Ben Arfa appeared personally before the FFF disciplinary commission, but refused to comment after their hearing.
Lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa, representing Menez, who is currently on tour in the United States with PSG, described the outcome as “fair” and said he would be advising his client not to appeal.
