Nantes striker Bagayoko suspended for six weeks

Nantes striker Mamadou Bagayoko has been suspended for six weeks by the French football league disciplinary commission for pushing the referee in their weekend match at home to Monaco, it was announced on Thursday.

In the 77th minute of Saturday’s match, Bagayoko tussled with referee Eric Poulat while he was trying to give the player a yellow card for dissent. The official then brought out his red card to send the player off.

Pascal Garibian, president of the disciplinary commission, said: “The commission has looked into the facts of the incident and whether there was physical contact with the referee, either pushing, manhandling or making him fall over.

“Contact was established, the push was established and the player has been suspended for six weeks, starting from Monday. The player will be able to play again on March 2.”