Paris St. Germain sporting director Leonardo this week saw his nine-month ban for pushing a referee increased to 13 months after a failed appeal. The super-rich Ligue champion has yetto decide whether to appeal the decision to the national sporting and Olympic committee (CNOSF), the highest sports authority in France.
Leonardo was handed a nine-month band for pushingreferee Alexandre Castro in the tunnel following a Ligue 1 clash with Valenciennes on May 5. After the initial appeal failed, the ban was raised to 13 months, which means theBrazilian would not be able to return to his duties until June 30, 2014.
“Paris St Germain … regrets the harshness of the sanction against Leonardo, who still has the full confidence ofthe club,” the French champions said in a statement on Friday. “The club will decide whether they file a possible appeal [to the CNOSF] after examining the reasoned decision.”