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

The France left-back was given the punishment by the Football Association almost two weeks ago, a verdict United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, called "the worst decision I have ever known".

However, after examination of the case, United have decided not to take the matter further. It appears unlikely Evra could win an appeal given he had already admitted he was at fault for the incident at Stamford Bridge involving the Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell.

Evra was fined £15,000 in addition to his suspension but it is the ban which angered Ferguson. The former Monaco defender, who is part of United's squad for this week's Club World Cup in Japan, will now be banned from domestic competition until mid-January.

He will miss the champions' Premier League matches against Stoke and Middlesbrough, the FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton on 3 January and the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final with Derby four days later.