Southampton midfielder David Prutton, who was found guilty of two charges of improper conduct following his red card in a match against Arsenal last weekend, has accepted his ten-match ban.

Prutton was charged by the Football Association after he jostled the referee following his dimissal in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at St Mary’s.

“It is a hefty ban but I put myself in that position by doing what I did and now I have to face the consequences,” Prutton told reporters.

“I regretted it as soon as I had done it. I sat in the dressing-room and realised I had let down my team mates, my manager and myself.

“I portrayed an image that is not me and I hope people watching football will not follow it.”

The suspension effectively rules Prutton out for the rest of the season. Southampton have 10 Premier League matches left and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Prutton’s ban is only one match less than the one handed to Sheffield Wednesday’s Italian forward Paolo Di Canio for pushing the referee to the ground during a match six years ago.