Former French international player Claude Makelele was handed a five-month suspended prison sentence after being accused of beating up his former girlfriend.

Makelele, 39, denied claims from Thandi Ojeer, a 37-year-old British events organizer, who said the footballer he punched her at the home they once shared in the suburbss of Paris.

Ojeer was in a relationship with the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star for two years.

Makelele, deputy coach with French top flight side Paris Saint Germain, did not show up in court on Thursday.