Southampton's David Prutton has been hit with a ten-match ban by The FA.
David Prutton has been hit with a ten-match ban by The Football Association for his actions against Arsenal at the weekend.The Southampton midfielder was given a second booking by referee Alan Wiley following a late tackle on Robert Pires and this sparked a furious response from Prutton.
He attempted to remonstrate with a referee's assistant and manhandled Wiley as he intervened.
A volley of verbal abuse followed and he had to be escorted from the field by a shocked Saints manager Harry Redknapp.
Prutton came out and issued a sincere apology on Monday, but The FA took a dim view and charged him with two charges of improper conduct.
Prutton admitted the charges of failure to leave the field promptly and one of using threatening words and/or behaviour towards a match official, and The FA have opted to hit him with a ten-game suspension and fine him £6,000.
With ten games left in The Premiership, Prutton will be available for the final match of the season, as his suspension will also cover cup matches and Saints will face Manchester United in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Prutton emerged from Soho Square and duly admitted that he will accept the ban - with an appeal now highly unlikely.
"It is hefty," Prutton told Sky Sports News of the ban. "But I put myself in that position and I accept it.
"It is something I need to get on with."
