Man City's Aguero gets three-match ban for violent conduct

LONDON — Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been banned for three matches after being found guilty of violent conduct, the Football Association said Friday. The Argentine striker elbowed West Ham United defender Winston Reid during Sunday's Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, which City won 3-1. He will be unavailable for the derby at rival Manchester United on Sept. 10 and will also miss City's Premier League clash with Bournemouth and a League Cup third-round tie against Swansea City. "Sergio Aguero will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after an FA charge of violent conduct against him was found proven," the FA said in a statement on its website. "The club denied the charge and submitted further that, if it was to be found proven, the standard punishment would be clearly excessive. "On finding the charge proven at a hearing today (Friday 2 Sept. 2016), an Independent Regulatory Commission went on to reject the club's further claim to decrease the three-match ban." Aguero has scored in two of City's three league games so far this season, and also grabbed a hat trick against Steaua Bucharest in a Champions League playoff match on Aug. 16. Messi out of Venezuela qualifier Argentina striker Lionel Messi will miss Tuesday's 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Venezuela with a groin problem, national team coach Edgardo Bauza said Friday. "Unfortunately, he won't be able to play. We can't take any risks. We spoke with the doctor and it's the sensible thing to do. It must be treated, we must take care of him," Bauza told reporters at the team's training base in Buenos Aires. Messi made a triumphant return after his short-lived international retirement by scoring the winning goal in Thursday's 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Mendoza. The result moved Argentina to the top of the 10-team South American qualifying group after seven of 18 matches. The top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2018 Finals in Russia. — Agencies