A French Court ruled yesterday after a retrial that the 58-year-old former England and Yorkshire cricket star did batter his former girlfriend, Margaret Moore, 45, during an argument about money in 1996.

Now, apart from a three-month suspended sentence, Boycott faces more difficulties over money.

Apart from the 5,000 pound ($8,300) fine imposed by the court in Grasse and the estimated 250,000 pounds Boycott spent on his defence, the commentator could lose another 250,000 pounds in earnings from broadcasters and newspapers.

Britain's top-selling daily paper, The Sun, immediately announced it had sacked boycott as a columnist.

A spokesman for the tabloid said: ``Our readers would find repugnant the idea of us employing someone with a conviction for violence against a woman.''

Boycott was inLahore covering Pakistan-Australia cricket for television when the verdict was announced.

``Obviously I am very disappointed with the court's decision,'' he said. ``But in view of the way the trial was conducted I suppose this is not a total surprise.''

Boycott was working for TransWorld International, a sports broadcasting company, in Pakistan. TWI said there were no more cricket tours in prospect for him.

Boycott was suspended by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a Test match commentator as a result of initial adverse publicity. Although he was later reinstated, the BBC said he was not under contract and there were no plans to employ him in future.

Boycott, who denied beating Moore, has said he will appeal against the verdict.