Fernandinho's 2-footed chop punished with 3rd red card in 6 matches

Fernandinho isn't ingratiating himself with referees both in England and on the continent after the Brazilian was given his marching orders by referee Lee Mason on Monday for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The Manchester City midfielder is now set for a four-match spell on the sidelines for his latest misdemeanour, continuing a sinful streak that includes two yellow cards against Borussia Monchengladbach on Nov. 23, and a red card for becoming embroiled in a tussle with Chelsea on Dec. 3.

Fernandinho's tackle in the 32nd minute, a needless, airborne effort that succeeded in bashing both of Gudmundsson's feet (and was performed rather innocuously near the centre circle), preceded boos when the half-time whistle sounded after a tame showing from the home side.

The 31-year-old apologised to the Icelandic winger and handed the captain's armband to Aleksandar Kolarov before departing. Barring a tougher sanction from the Football Association, Fernandinho will sit out an FA Cup trip to West Ham United, and then league tilts with Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham once more.