Former France international Marcel Desailly hopes Patrice Evra's indiscretion does not see his compatriot's career end in disgrace.
Marseille left-back Evra became the first player to be sent off before kick-off in a Europa League match on Thursday when he kicked one of his own club's fans prior to their match against Vitoria Guimaraes.
UEFA handed him an initial one-game ban while OM suspended the 36-year-old, who was subjected to unkind chants from supporters believed to be unhappy with his social-media antics amid disappointing on-field performances.
Desailly, a World Cup winner and European champion with France, hopes Evra's career - which has included seven domestic league titles in England and Italy as well as one Champions League crown - does not become defined by the unsavoury moment.