Chelsea midfielder Ramires will miss the remainder of the Premier League season after being handed a four-match suspension by the Football Association.
Ramires accepted a charge of violent conduct following a review into an off-the-ball incident in the hot-tempered closing stages of Saturday’s shock 2-1 defeat to bottom club Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old caught Sebastian Larsson in the face with a flailing arm, although the offence was missed by match referee Mike Dean.
But FA disciplinary officials have reviewed the footage before issuing the violent conduct charge, which Ramires did not contest.
He incurred an automatic three-match ban, and an extra game was added on due to his sending off against Aston Villa last month.
The Brazil midfielder will miss Sunday’s huge trip to title rivals Liverpool – a match for which Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has already threatened to play a weakened team – as well as meetings with Norwich and Cardiff.
Ramires can still feature in the UEFA Champions League this campaign, but the fourth and final match of his domestic ban will cover the first league game of next season.
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