Arsenal’s attacking midfielder Alexander Hleb has been given a three match ban by the English FA as part of a violent conduct charge.

The charge and ban was given by the FA after they reviewed footage of Hleb punching Reading defender Graeme Murty during last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over The Royals.

The incident was not filed in the referee’s match report by referee Peter Walton who said he did not see the incident so couldn’t write about it. Walton did say that should there have being video evidence available to him during the match he would have sent the Arsenal midfielder off for the offence.

Hleb has now been banned for three matches by the FA, and gave him the chance to appeal the ban but he has accepted the punishment and will reject the chance to appeal.

He will now serve his three match ban over the next three Premier League games.

The games are against Derby, Everton and Sunderland and with only three matches of the Premier League season remaining his season is over.