West Bromwich Albion defender Gabriel Tamas has accepted a three-match ban handed to him by the Football Association for violent conduct.
The Romanian clashed with Norwich City forward James Vaughan late in the Baggies' 1-0 win at Carrow Road on Sunday with the Canaries player falling to the ground with a bloodied mouth.
Although the incident went unpunished on matchday, the FA reviewed the footage and decided to charge Tamas who has now been suspended for three Premier League matches.
"West Bromwich Albion's Gabriel Tamas will begin a three match suspension with immediate effect after he accepted a charge of violent conduct," read a statement on the FA's official website.
"Tamas was charged following an incident during West Bromwich Albion's fixture at Norwich City on Sunday 11 September."
Vaughan required plastic surgery to mend a badly-gashed lip and although Tamas says there was no intent to harm, he does concede the action was careless.
"We have spoken at length with Gabriel and he is adamant that he did not intentionally elbow James in the face," West Brom's legal director Richard Garlick told the club's official website.
"However, he admits the way he turned in the penalty area was clumsy and he has apologised to James through a mutual friend for the injury he has suffered.
"We as a club, also send our best wishes to James.
"Although we accept Gabriel's version of the incident, both the player and the club have decided against appealing the decision as it would be very difficult to overturn."
