By Chris Wright
The FFF have today announced that Lens’ Venezuelan defender Gabriel Cichero will not be allowed to play again until March 15th 2012 after being caught on CCTV assaulting Bastia director Alain Seghi in the tunnel following a match in the French second division on October 15th…
While the Bastia stadium footage is a little grainy and inconclusive, reports are claiming that, after being sent-off in the last minute of the game and brawling on the pitch for a while, Cichero then pushed Bastia president Pierre Marie Geronimi before kicking Seghi in the face – breaking his conk, jaw and fracturing his eye socket into the bargain.
Cichero has refused to apologise, claiming that he is ‘an intelligent family man with God at his side’ and that he ‘reacted normally’ to the provocation he received from the Bastia contingent on his way to the dressing room.
He is likely to appeal his five-month suspension, a move which could land him with a ten-month lay-off if unsuccessful. Bonne chance Gabriel!