Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will miss the Manchester derby after being given a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid.
The Football Association found the Argentine guilty of violent conduct after he clashed with Reid in the 3-1 win at the Etihad on Aug. 28.
City failed in an appeal to get the decision overturned and he will now miss the game against Manchester United on Sept. 10 as well as the home clash with Bournemouth on Sept. 17 and EFL Cup tie at Swansea City four days later.
Aguero caught Reid in the neck with his elbow and the New Zealand international was treated on the pitch before being substituted.
Referee Andre Marriner said he and his fellow officials missed the incident during the match.
Aguero was given an extension until 6 p.m. BST on Thursday to respond to the charge, which was issued after a review panel felt he should have been sent off.
Sergio Aguero to serve three-match suspension after @ManCity forward’s violent conduct charge is proven: https://t.co/TQK8CrUBvZ
– The FA (@FA) September 2, 2016
A statement on the FA website said: “Sergio Aguero will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after an FA charge of violent conduct against him was found proven.
“The Manchester City forward was involved in a 76th-minute incident with West Ham United’s Winston Reid on Sunday [28 August 2016], which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
“The club denied the charge and submitted further that, if it was to be found proven, the standard punishment would be clearly excessive.
“On finding the charge proven at a hearing today, an Independent Regulatory Commission went on to reject the club’s further claim to decrease the three-match ban.”
Aguero picked up a calf injury in the game and was substituted in the 88th minute. He has since withdrawn from Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela.
Losing the striker is be a major setback for City and boss Pep Guardiola, particularly with the game against Jose Mourinho’s United coming next.
Aguero has made a superb start to the season, scoring six times in his first four appearances, including a hat trick in the Champions League playoff first leg against Steaua Bucharest.
His form has helped Guardiola’s side win their three opening Premier League games, with United and Chelsea the only other teams to have a 100 percent record.
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