Brazilian striker Brandao will be left out of Bastia's side to face Toulouse on Saturday after headbutting Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Motta, the Corsican club announced on Thursday.

The move from Bastia comes as Brandao looks set to be handed a provisional ban later Thursday by the French league's disciplinary commission.

"Brandao is being rested at the moment and we'll see in a few days when he'll return," Bastia manager Claude Makelele said.

Makelele, who has excluded Brandao from training sessions since Monday, said he had taken the decision to drop Brandao "due to the need to protect the player and his entourage faced with pressure from the media".

Makelele, a former PSG player, was reluctant to discuss the case but he lamented the loss of "an important player" this weekend and "is now waiting for the disciplinary commission's decision".

Bastia have "condemned without ambiguity" the player's action, but PSG are furious at the lack of a more concrete response from the Corsicans.

Brazil-born Italy international Motta suffered a broken nose in the ugly clash with Brandao after Saturday's 2-0 win against Bastia.

Images from CCTV cameras in the tunnel at the Parc des Princes showed Brandao waiting for Motta to approach him before headbutting the Brazil-born Italy international at the end of the Ligue 1 game.

Thiago, though, will be fit to play in the game against Evian on Friday,PSG coach Laurent Blanc said later on Thursday.

"Thiago Motta suffered a broken nose but he was back at training on Monday and he is capable of playing. No problem," said Blanc, who refused to comment on the possible punishment for Brandao.

Brandao, who was suspended for four matches last season for elbowing PSG's Yohan Cabaye at the Parc des Princes while playing for Saint-Etienne, risks a lengthy suspension.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on Saturday called for a lifetime ban.

The French league's disciplinary commission are due to begin hearing the case later Thursday.