BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Hope Akpan will serve a four-match suspension following his red card at Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month, the FA have confirmed.

Akpan was initially handed a three game ban following his red card in the 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on February 14 for raising his hands towards referee Scott Duncan after the Rovers midfielder saw what he thought was an equaliser disallowed for handball.

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The FA say Akpan’s behaviour “constituted violent conduct in circumstances where the standard punishment of three matches would be clearly insufficient”.

Akpan denied the charge but it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

An additional one match suspension has now been added to the standard three match punishment that Akpan is already serving following his dismissal.

Akpan will serve the second match of his ban in tonight’s game at Burton Albion, and will now miss next week’s home fixtures with Derby County (February 28) and Wigan Athletic (March 4).

In addition, Rovers have been fined £5,000 after the club admitted a charge of “failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion” during their protestations – which also saw Elliott Bennett sent off after the final whistle for using foul and abusive language towards the officials.

Bennett will serve the second of his two game ban this evening.