Man Utd abandon appeal over Evra

Evra is scheduled to return for the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford in January

Manchester United have decided not to appeal against Patrice Evra's four-game ban for his part in the post-match fracas at Stamford Bridge last season.

Defender Evra was also fined �15,000 after being found guilty of improper conduct in the melee, also involving Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell.

"The club believes the decision to be flawed in many respects but the focus needs to be on matches," United said.

Evra will miss two Premier League games plus FA Cup and Carling Cup ties.

When the verdict was first announced earlier this month, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described it as "the worst decision I have ever known."

United originally requested a transcript of Evra's disciplinary hearing.

Ferguson said at the time: "They have been doing that report to make sure it is 100% watertight.

"A lot of people have been ringing about it because it is the most incredible decision in my time at this club.

"The FA have done many things but this is absolutely beyond me."

Chelsea were fined �25,000 for failing to ensure an employee conducted himself in an orderly fashion at the crunch Premier League match, which they won 2-1.

The FA said charges that groundsman Bethell had used racially abusive language towards Evra after the match could not be proven.

Evra and his team-mates were asked to move while warming down, sparking the row.

Evra, Gary Neville, Park Ji-Sung, Danny Wellbeck, John O'Shea and Paul Scholes - who did not feature 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 Frenchman and Bethell were pictured having a confrontation following the incident, with Bethell raising a fist towards Evra while being held back by two Chelsea staff members.

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

Also in the United statement confirming their decision not to appeal, the club said: "Patrice accepts the suspension, but categorically denies hitting anyone.

"Since playing in the Premier League, he has enjoyed a good disciplinary record, having never been dismissed - something which the panel acknowledged.

"To serve a ban which is longer than one imposed for a career-threatening tackle or throwing an object into the crowd indicates that the disciplinary commission made a very poor decision."

With the ban due to start on 22 December, Evra will miss United's league games against Stoke and Middlesbrough, the FA Cup third-round tie against Southampton and the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Derby.

He would be free to face Chelsea again when they visit Old Trafford on 11 January.