Bristol Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been hit with a three-game ban after accepting a charge of violent conduct.
The charge related to an incident in the 58th minute of Saturday's 2-0 defeat to MK Dons when a frustrated Finley fouled Sullay Kaikai to prevent a counter-attack after the Gas felt they were denied a clear free-kick on the edge of the box.
Finley was booked for the challenge by referee Carl Boyeson, but a retrospective review of the footage showed the 30-year-old's actions amounted to violent conduct, making contact with the MK Dons forward while he was on the floor.
Usually, FA rules stipulate a yellow card cannot be upgraded to a red after the game unless key evidence was not seen by the officials.
The suspension rules Finley – who has started almost 80 per cent of Rovers league games this season – out for Saturday's game at Lincoln City as well as the upcoming fixtures against Ipswich Town and Burton Albion.
"This incident was not seen by the match officials, but it was caught on video, and the midfielder admitted that his behaviour at the time constitutes violent conduct and accepted the standard penalty," an FA spokesman said.
Finley was not the only Rovers player to be charged in the wake of Saturday's defeat, with defender James Gibbons hit with two counts of improper conduct relating to incidents in the 23rd and 53rd minute respectively.
Gibbons, who has made 18 league appearances for the Gas, has until Monday to respond to the charge, meaning he is available for the game against Lincoln.
The club has confirmed it will contest the allegations, which have not yet been specified publicly by the FA.
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