Cisse hit by five-match suspension
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Cisse has scored 12 league goals so far this season
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FRANKFURT, Germany -- France striker Djibril Cisse could miss some or all of next year's Euro 2004 championships after being hit with a five-match ban.
UEFA, European football's governing body, acted after the Auxerre forward was sent off playing for the French reserves against Portugal last month.
The French Football Federation said that it planned to appeal against the decision handed out to the French league's top scorer this season.
France coach Jacques Santini said he was amazed at the severity of the ban, given that Cisse had only been playing in a reserve match.
Quizzed about the effect the suspension might have on Cisse's Euro 2004 participation Santini shrugged: "I won't be taking any decisions until all the avenues of appeal have been explored and the sanction confirmed."
Cisse, who has scored 12 league goals this campaign, said: "The punishment's been made, I've got nothing more to say about it."
Cisse's manager at Auxerre, veteran coach Guy Roux, believes the sanction excessive.
"I think it's too heavy, it should be rectified on appeal," he said.
