Rochdale striker Andrew cops massive ban for elbow

Rochdale striker Calvin Andrew has been handed one of the longest bans in English football history following a sickening blow during last weekend's derby with Oldham.

Andrew will miss the third-tier League One club's next 12 matches after the Football Association viewed footage of the 29-year-old elbowing Latics defender Peter Clarke in a vicious off-the-ball incident.

The clash was initially missed by the referee, but an FA independent regulatory commission delivered the hefty suspension on Friday that is set to keep Andrew sidelined until early in the new year.

Video footage emerged online after Andrew's ban, which showed the striker running towards Clarke and making contact with his head with an outstretched arm.

Clarke did not appear to see the contact coming - with the ball well clear of the area - before being left prone on his own six-yard box.

His ban is the longest handed down by the FA for an on-field incident in the top four divisions since Joey Barton was given a 12-match suspension after he was sent off for QPR in their memorable final-day defeat to Manchester City in 2012.

Controversial former Manchester United midfielder Eric Cantona was handed a nine-month suspension from all football and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service following an infamous Kung Fu kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons at Selhurst Park in 1995.