Sochaux boss angry with ban

Sochaux coach Guy Lacombe feels he has been made a scapegoat in the wake of Anders Frisk's retirement, after he was banned for two months for abusing a linesman.

The incident occurred during the Ligue 1 clash with Rennes as Lacombe raged at a referee's assistant after Omar Daf was dismissed for deliberate handball.

Les Lionceaux boss was originally handed a two-match touchline ban although appealed against the decision, only to see his punishment extended to eight weeks.

Lacombe believes that Frisk's retirement, which came after death threats following Chelsea's defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, has shifted the balance of acceptable behaviour and punishment.

Uefa have recently declared that they are intent on reducing the abuse that match officials face, and Lacombe appears to have been subject to this renewed no-tolerance approach.

"I am really down and very surprised, we should never have appealed but we thought it could improve things," Lacombe told L'Equipe.

"Before my sending off I told the linesman my player who was sent off didn't do an intentional handball.

"It is true I told him in a vehement way, but there was no abuse, the Frisk case has changed things, I am the scapegoat.

"When the Frisk case happened people railed against the coaches.

"I am fiery passionate, a great lover of justice and I am sorry for it, I learnt a good lesson but this time they just want to make an example.

"I have always had a very good relationship with the referees and my brother is part of them."

Meanwhile rumours continue to grow surrounding Lacombe's future at Stade Bonal as he is expected to leave in the summer, with Paris Saint Germain and Nantes slated as potential suitors.