Aguero slammed by disciplinary commission for 'brutal' elbow

A commission working independently from the Football Association has branded Sergio Aguero's elbowing of West Ham United's Winston Reid on Aug. 28 as "brutal," and an act that "clearly endangered the safety" of his opponent.

The Manchester City forward appeared to strike the Hammers defender, but his aggressive movement went undetected by referee Andre Marriner. The FA then retroactively banned Aguero for three matches after investigating video evidence from the tie.

The three-man independent panel, chaired by former Premier League winger Stuart Ripley, reached a consensus that Aguero had "thrown out his left arm in an aggressive manner that was excessive in force and brutal, which clearly endangered the safety of Mr Reid."

The commission also added that "the clenched fist of Mr. Aguero as he threw his left elbow towards Mr. Reid, the upward angle of the movement, and the force of the movement" factored in the decision.

(Courtesy: @MailSport)

Marriner responded in an email that he "did not see the full extent of the incident and in particular where Sergio Aguero's hand had finished up in the challenge, which clearly catches Winston Reid in the throat region."

The Argentinian was subsequently banned for last Saturday's trip to Manchester United, and will continue serving his suspension in the upcoming domestic meetings with Bournemouth and Swansea City.

City did appeal the ruling, but its pleas unsurprisingly fell on deaf ears as the FA found the forward's actions to be a clear display of violent conduct.

"The commission could not see anything 'truly exceptional' about the incident," explained Ripley. "The incident was simply a 'one v one' tussle for the ball, such that is seen many times during any football match, whereby one of the players had used excessive force and brutality against the other."

Kelechi Iheanacho is likely to deputise in Aguero's absence, with the Nigerian teenager scoring the match-winner in last weekend's 2-1 derby-day victory at Old Trafford.

Aguero is available for selection in Wednesday's re-scheduled Champions League group-stage bout with Borussia Monchengladbach.