Rochdale striker Calvin Andrew has been banned for 12 matches by the Football Association after being found guilty of violent conduct in last weekend's derby against Oldham.
The incident was not seen by the referee, though Press Association Sport reported the FA was moved to take action after video replays showed the 29-year-old elbowing an Oldham player in the face off the ball.
The ban is one of the longest in English football history and was handed down following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Friday.
"Calvin Andrew has been given a 12-match ban with immediate effect following an incident which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video," an FA statement read.
"The player was involved in an act of violent conduct in or around the 77th minute of the game against Oldham Athletic on 29 October 2016.
"Furthermore, it was alleged that the standard punishment of three matches that would otherwise apply would be clearly insufficient.
"The player admitted his behaviour constituted violent conduct but denied the clearly insufficient element of the charge."
Rochdale have the right to appeal the ban, which will rule Andrew out until early in the new year.
Andrew's suspension ranks among the longest handed out by the FA.
It matches the 12-game ban imposed on Joey Barton after he was sent off for QPR in their memorable final-day defeat to Manchester City in 2012, while Luis Suarez was given a 10-match ban that same season after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during a match at Anfield.
Controversial former Manchester United midfielder Eric Cantona was handed a nine-month suspension from all football and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service following an infamous kung fu kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons at Selhurst Park in 1995.
