LONDON, Dec 6: Manchester United defender Patrice Evra was given a four-match ban by the English Football Association for improper conduct during a post-match brawl at Chelsea in April.

Evra was also fined 15,000 pounds ($21,950) for the incident, while Chelsea was fined 25,000 pounds ($36,600) for failing to ensure an employee conducted himself in an orderly fashion.

However, the FA said charges that Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell had used racially abusive language toward Evra after the match could not be proven. Photographs from the game, which Chelsea won 2-1, showed Bethell raising a fist toward Evra while being held back by two Chelsea staff members.

The FA said Evra struck Bethell on the side of the head, and that the player admitted to pushing a different groundsman with his chest.

United issued a statement saying it considered the suspension “excessive.”

“Manchester United and Patrice will consider all options once there has been an opportunity to digest the full reasons for the decision,” the club said.

At least six United players were involved in the clashes with Chelsea stewards and groundsmen at Stamford Bridge.

Evra, Gary Neville, Park Ji-sung, Danny Wellbeck, John O’Shea and Paul Scholes –– who all did not play in the match –– were running on the field in a warm-down about 30 minutes after the final whistle when the trouble broke out.The scuffles came as the Chelsea ground staff were cutting the grass.

The United players were reportedly asked not to run across the field and to jog in the same direction as the lawnmowers.—AP