Dugarry banned for three matches

Birmingham striker Christophe Dugarry has been handed a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association.

Dugarry is alleged to have elbowed Blackburn defender Craig Short, who suffered a broken nose, during the Barclaycard Premiership match at St Andrews last month.

Referee Graham Barber did not see the incident – although he later sent off Dugarry for two bookable offences.

But the FA requested video evidence and earlier this month charged the former World Cup-winner after studying additional footage.

The Frenchman, who had until January 21 to respond to the charge, accepted the FA’s decision at a meeting of their disciplinary commission yesterday and will serve the ban immediately.

Dugarry is currently sidelined with a knee problem – his last appearance was in the Blackburn match – and is undergoing rehabilitation work after a series of injections.

Whether fit or not, the striker will now not be available for the Barclaycard Premiership matches against Chelsea and Newcastle, as well as the FA Cup fourth-round tie with Wimbledon in between on January 24.