'Symbolic' ban for Anelka

Nicolas Anelka has been handed a two-match ban by the French Football Federation after the Manchester City FC striker snubbed a call-up for an international friendly match against Yugoslavia last month.

Anelka not present
"The discipline committee met on Thursday and decided to ban Nicolas Anelka for two games according to the rules of the French federation," an FFF statement said on Friday. Anelka did not attend Thursday's hearing in Paris.

Symbolic ban
The FFF cited article 175 of their own regulations and had hoped to see Anelka banned from playing for his club side. However, the sanction is largely symbolic as the English Football Association and City have already turned down the request for a ban sent by the FFF in November.

French return would activate ban
The Premiership club pointed out that FIFA's article 38.2 dictates that a national association must request a foreign-based player's release in writing 15 days before an international match, and that Anelka received his call-up three days before the Yugoslavia game. The ban would come into force, though, should Anelka return to play in French football.