Arsenal F.C. Defender Gabriel Handed One-Match Ban for Pitch Protest

Arsenal defender Gabriel was given a one-match ban by the Football Association on Friday after accepting a charge of improper conduct following his controversial dismissal at Chelsea.

Gabriel was sent off for kicking out at Chelsea forward Diego Costa in the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

The FA announced on Tuesday it had accepted Arsenal's challenge to referee Mike Dean's decision and withdrawn the three-match suspension as replays showed he didn't make contact with Costa, but the Brazilian defender has not escaped all punishment.

Gabriel had protested angrily and briefly refused to leave the pitch following the fall-out from his clash with Costa and his new punishment for that behaviour means he will now serve a one-match ban at Leicester this weekend.

"Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Arsenal defender Gabriel will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of improper conduct," a statement from the FA read.

"The charge relates to Gabriel's behaviour following his dismissal in or around the 45th minute of the game against Chelsea on Saturday (19 September 2015).

"The player, who requested a personal hearing, was also fined £10,000 and warned as to his future conduct." (Diego Costa Handed Three-Match Ban)

The news is a blow to Arsenal ahead of the trip to in-form Leicester, but manager Arsene Wenger had already admitted earlier on Friday that he expected a new ban for Gabriel.

"He was sorry for what happened and very disappointed, but he is a fighter and his attitude in training the whole week was completely focused and motivated," Wenger said.

"If there is no punishment we are a bit lucky, if there is a punishment I have to take it."