FA confirms length of Aguero and Fernandinho bans

David Luiz and Sergio Aguero: Clashed again on Saturday

Sergio Aguero has been banned for four matches, as expected, by the Football Association following his weekend dismissal which prompted a fractious finale to Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea.

City striker Aguero was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Chelsea defender David Luiz, which led to a bench-clearing melee at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Fernandinho was also sent off for shoving Cesc Fabregas during the incident, with City’s Brazilian midfielder banned for three matches, as indicated on the disciplinary pages of the FA website.

Premier League leaders Chelsea won the game 3-1 for an eighth successive victory, but both clubs can anticipate FA disciplinary action for a failure to control their players.

Fabregas’ role in Fernandinho’s dismissal could also be scrutinised after it appeared he struck the City man in the face, prompting the Brazil international’s furious reaction.

 

Aguero’s offence was effectively his second dismissal of the season after he served a three-match ban for violent conduct, issued retrospectively after he was adjudged to have elbowed West Ham’s Winston Reid in August.

The Argentina striker will miss City’s matches with Leicester, Watford, Arsenal and Hull this month. Fernandinho will be available for the Hull game on Boxing Day.

 

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City defender Nicolas Otamendi, meanwhile, received his fifth booking of the season on Saturday to prompt an automatic one-match suspension, so Pep Guardiola will be without three players for Saturday’s trip to Leicester.

The two red cards against Chelsea took City’s number of on-field dismissals to five in the early months of Guardiola’s reign.

Fernandinho and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo were sent off in Champions League action, while Nolito was handed his marching orders in September’s win over Bournemouth.