Cardiff's Craig Bellamy gets three-game ban after accepting FA charge
Cardiff City's forward Craig Bellamy will serve a three-match ban after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct.
The former Wales international had been charged for striking the Swansea midfielder Jonathan de Guzman with an arm during Cardiff's south Wales derby defeat on Saturday.
Cardiff's manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, did not believe the incident merited further action but an FA statement read: "Cardiff City's Craig Bellamy will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he accepted an FA charge of violent conduct.
"Bellamy was charged following an incident which occurred during Cardiff's game against Swansea City on Saturday. The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video."
It means Bellamy's suspension began with Cardiff's match against Aston Villa on Tuesday night, which ended in a goalless draw.
Bellamy will also miss Saturday's FA Cup match against Wigan and the home league meeting with Hull, as the Welsh club look to avoid relegation and an immediate return to the Championship.
Cardiff responded with a statement declaring their disappointment after the use of video footage to charge Bellamy.
The incident was missed by the referee, Andre Marriner, and his team of officials at the time but it was reviewed by a three-man panel of former elite referees who unanimously agreed it constituted violent conduct.
Cardiff's statement read: "Both Craig and the club are disappointed that the three-man panel of elite former referees reached their decision based on a video review this week.
"Following internal discussions at the club Craig has chosen to accept the charge and the three-match ban without appeal."