Former PSG star is suspended for 16 MATCHES after being found guilty of aggressive and insulting behaviour towards a referee during an Under 16s match

Former PSG star Sammy Traore has been handed a 16-match ban for his behaviour towards a referee during an Under 16s match last month.

Traore, who played for PSG between 2006 and 2011, is now the sporting director for fourth-tier French side US Creteil Lusitanos, and attended their Under 16s match against Racing Club De France on March 23.

The match finished 2-1 to Racing Club De France, but was overshadowed by Traore's behaviour, with the assistant referee's report alleging that he walked across the pitch at one stage to delay the resumption of play and 'encouraged his players to commit serious fouls on their opponents'.

Traore then turned his attention to the referee and proceeded to insult him, before entering the pitch once more after the final whistle. After being asked to leave by the assistant referee, Traore became aggressive and threatening towards the officials, and had to be restrained by a US Creteil Lusitanos coach.

A disciplinary committee met on April 3 to discuss Traore's conduct, and he was subsequently suspended for 16 matches.

Traore denied the allegations against him, as in the report sent to the commission he insisted he had 'no major problem' with the officials, when the referee asked him to go back behind the handrail, he did so' and that '(his) attitude was not disrespectful towards anyone.'

However, it was determined that he did not provide enough evidence to convince the commission that the referee's version of events was incorrect, and he was slapped with a lengthy ban.

The club have also been fined €50 (£43) following the controversy.

The suspension came into effect on April 8, with Traore now set to be kept away from matches for several months.

Traore formerly came through US Creteil Lusanitos' academy as a player before joining Nice in 2002.

He went on to move to PSG four years later, prior to being loaned out to Auxerre after a solitary season.

He returned to PSG in 2008 and won the French Cup with the club in 2009-10 before hanging up his boots in 2011.