Fernandez ban comes to an end

Paris Saint-Germain FC coach Luis Fernandez will finally be allowed back in the dug-out on Wednesday after his six-month ban for arguing with referees finally came to an end.

'Long and unfair'
"I know that from now on my behaviour will be very controlled, I’ll try to be very careful. I'll try to stand back in order to avoid the same pitfalls. This ban was long and unfair, so I am ready for this comeback."

Threatening behaviour
Fernandez received the ban after a 1-0 home defeat against FC Girondins de Bordeaux on 2 March 2002 which ended in a fierce argument with the match officials and included some threatening behaviour from the former Athletic Club Bilbao coach. After the incident and the subsequent six-month ban, the Frenchman said he would never return to the bench, but he has since relented and will be back for Wednesday's game against Lille OSC.

'Like English coaches'
Fernandez added: "I could do what the English coaches do and spend the first half in the stand and the other on the bench." PSG, who play their UEFA Cup first-round match on 19 September against Újpesti TE at the Parc des Princes, have begun the domestic campaign impressively and are lying in fourth place in Le Championnat, one point off top spot.