Aston Villa's Leandro Bacuna handed six-match ban

Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna was suspended on Friday for six matches, after hitting a linesman during a match.

Bacuna head-butted assistant referee Mark Russell during stoppage time of the Championship match at Villa Park Stadium against Derby County 1-0, and was sent off afterwards.

The Dutch international accepted the English Football Association's charge of "violent conduct" against Bacuna and asked the association for his three-match ban.

"He admitted a breach of FA Rule E3 in that his behaviour in or around the 94th minute of the game constituted violent conduct in circumstances where the standard punishment of three matches would be clearly insufficient," the Football Association said.

Bacuna, who has played 25 matches this season with Aston Villa, will not return to the pitch until April 8, missing six games of the championship.

--IANS

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