Soccer - French referee's ban extended after appeal: report

PARIS (Reuters) - French referee Tony Chapron's ban for trying to kick out at Nantes player Diego Carlos in a Ligue 1 game against Paris St Germain has been increased from three to eight months, two of them suspended, newspaper Le Dauphine Libere reported on Friday.

(Reuters)

During stoppage-time of the match on Jan. 14, Chapron bumped into Brazilian Carlos and fell over with TV footage showing him swinging his leg towards the running defender’s shins.

The local Le Dauphine Libere newspaper said a French federation appeal committee had increased the suspension after the referee appealed against the initial ban.

The federation could not immediately be reached to confirm the result of the appeal.

A few seconds after the incident, Chapron gave Carlos a yellow card, which resulted in the player being sent off as he had also been booked in the first half.

Chapron later apologised to Carlos.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)