Extra ban keeps Everton striker out until April

The Everton striker Duncan Ferguson has been suspended for an additional four matches and fined £5,000 by the Football Association. The FA charged the former Scotland international following an incident involving Wigan's Pascal Chimbonda during a Premier League match on 31 January.

It occurred immediately after another incident involving Wigan's Paul Scharner for which Ferguson was sent off.

The four-match suspension is in addition to the three-match ban Ferguson is serving for his dismissal in the match. It means that the 34-year-old will not be available for the Goodison Park side until the Premiership visit of Sunderland on 1 April.

Because the referee Mike Dean had already decided to dismiss Ferguson before the Chimbonda incident, this matter fell outside the jurisdiction of the match officials but was reported to the FA.

Ferguson originally denied the charge and requested a personal hearing but his application was rejected by an independent disciplinary commission.