Leicester’s Drinkwater gets three-game ban

Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater will serve a three-match ban after accepting a charge of violent conduct for elbowing Watford’s Valon Behrami, the Football Association announced on Thursday.

England international Drinkwater, 26, struck Behrami in the face during the second half of Leicester’s 2-1 defeat at Watford last Saturday, which left the champions 14th in the Premier League table.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took no action at the time of the incident, but a video review panel of former elite referees decided it was a sending-off offence.

Drinkwater will now miss Leicester’s Premier League games against Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Manchester City.

He has started every Leicester game to date this season and helped the club reach the Champions League last 16 for the first time with a 2-1 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday.