The Stoke city defender Robert Huth faces three matches out of action after being banned by the English FA for violent conduct. The former Chelsea and Middlesbrough defender was found guilty of elbowing the Fulham defender Philippe Senderos during a match between the two clubs recently.

The match ended as a 1-0 defeat for Stoke, as a solitary goal from the former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov was enough to seal the points for the London team. The match officials missed the incident between Senderos and Huth, which allowed the English FA to take retrospective action based on video evidence.

The FA would not have been able to ban Huth retrospectively had the officials said the incident. The Stoke city manager Tony Pulis has said that he is disappointed with the defender, but he is confident that he will learn from his mistakes.

Pulis has admitted that missing Huth is major blow for the team. The 28-year-old has been one of the best performers in the Premier league this season. It has allowed Stoke city to have one of the best defensive records this season. Huth was a £ 5 million signing from Middlesbrough a few seasons ago. Only a few months ago, the defender escaped punishment in an incident involving him and the Liverpool striker Suarez. Because Huth is missing, Unibet have made the betting odds of Stoke winning their next game much longer.

“I don’t think Robert will be pleased and it affects the team. But everyone makes mistakes, and he will be big enough and strong enough to hold his hand up and say that what he did was wrong. Robert has been fantastic for this football club – a great player and one of the signings we will look back on and say ‘what a wonderful signing’. But I think he has let himself down more than anything else,” said Pulis after the English FA banned Huth.