Bowyer banned three matches after challenge on Sagna

Birmingham City midfielder Lee Bowyer will be suspended for three games after accepting a Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct for a challenge on Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna, the English governing body an-nounced yesterday.

Referee Peter Walton told the FA he would have sent off Bowyer if he had seen the incident during title challengers Arsenal’s 3-0 Premier League win away to Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Saturday.

Bowyer started his suspended with the match at Blackpool yesterday and misses the FA Cup third round trip to Millwall on Saturday and next Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final, first leg at West Ham.

Television replays showed Bowyer standing on Sagna when the defender was on the ground near the touchline.

“We accept the decision and will now have to move forward into the next three games without the services of Bowyer,” Birmingham manager Alex McLeish told the club’s official website.

“We have got a good discipline record at this club and stress to the players every week how important discipline is.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, reacting to news of Bowyer’s suspension, said: “Well the FA had a look at it and decided to charge him. I don’t think I have any special comment to make on that.”

The Frenchman, preparing his side to face title rivals Manchester City today, added: “I think even Bowyer will accept that. He made a mistake, he has been punished and he will accept it.”

Wenger rejected McLeish’s accusation that clubs such as Arsenal received less video scrutiny from both the British media and football officials.

“I just think the FA has to pick out any incident and punish every single club,” Wenger said.

“I believe usually the media single out more the bigger clubs because they are more in the spotlight. But the FA has just to be objective and try to punish everybody no matter where he comes from. For every bad or violent player.

“If you want to sum it up I don’t believe we have any favours from the media, no.”

Bowyer, 34, will be available for the derby clash at home to Aston Villa on January 16.