Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has had his ban for spitting extended until December 31, the French Football Federation (FFF) have announced.
However, the France international could return to football as early as October 15 if he complies with a programme to help amateur football set up by the FFF.
The increased ban was imposed by the FFF's Appeals Committee after the original penalty of a six-month ban with three months suspended was fiercely criticised.
Barthez will effectively only miss four Ligue 1 matches as most of his ban will be served in the summer.
The veteran shotstopper has been punished for the events during a friendly between Marseille and Wydad Casablanca in February when he spat in the direction of referee Abdelah El-Achiri.
For the ban to end on October 15, Barthez will have to participate in 10 sessions to aid amateur football.
These sessions will be outlined and supervised by the Federal Amateur Football League in agreement with the board of the FFF.
At the start of the month, Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech admitted that an extended ban could prompt the former
Manchester United keeper to end his illustrious career.
Domenech said: "A six-month suspension, at 33, for a player who has never suffered any disciplinary problems in his career is like a life sentence."
