Barnes ban increased

Brighton midfielder Ashley Barnes has been handed a further three-match ban by the Football Association, taking his suspension up to a total of seven games for a trip on a referee.

The 23-year-old was handed an automatic four-match ban for the offence during the 1-0 defeat to Bolton - his second dismissal of the campaign - but the FA felt that Barnes' behaviour towards match official Nigel Miller "constituted an offence whereby the standard punishment that would otherwise apply was clearly insufficient".

Barnes denied the charge but a Regulatory Commission "found the charge proven" and his ban was extended on Friday morning.

He has already served one game of the suspension and will miss the Seagulls' next six fixtures.