MARSEILLE Olympique Marseille Coach Rolland Courbis said on Thursday his club would appeal against a five-match ban on striker Christophe Dugarry for his part in a brawl after their UEFA Cup semifinal against Bologna. European governing body UEFA's Disciplinary Committee earlier in the day fined both clubs heavily and suspended two Marseille players and three of the Italian side. Several players and team officials were involved in a brawl at the end of the semifinal second leg in Bologna last week which ended 1-1, sending the French team into the UEFA Cup final on the away goals' rule.

UEFA, who gave both clubs until May 2 to appeal, will hear the appeal on May 7, five days before the UEFA Cup final in Moscow against another Italian side, Parma. I hope we can explain our position on appeal and that logic and good sense will finally prevail,'' Courbis said. I had the impression that we found ourselves in a situation of legitimate self-defense.'' Dugarry claimed he was caught up in the brawl because he ran to teammate Peter Luccin's defense when the young midfielder was attacked by Bologna players.

Dugarry's suspension puts him out of the UEFA Cup final along with teammates Fabrizio Ravanelli, Peter Luccin and William Gallas. All three were booked during the match. Courbis himself was fined $3,300 for insulting the referee. His son Stephane, who is on Marseille's backroom staff, was banned from official functions at UEFA Club matches for a year after throwing a punch at a Bologna player.

Marseille and Bologna were fined more than $180,000 between them. The French club's reserve defender Hamada Jambay was banned for four matches and Bologna's Amadeo Mangone, Giancarlo Marocchi and Giampiero Maini for five, four and three games each respectively. (Reuter)