Bowyer handed six-game suspension

UEFA have taken a hard-line with Lee Bowyer and have handed the Leeds United midfielder a six-match ban from European competition for his stamp on Malaga's Gerardo.

The incident happened during Leeds' Uefa Cup third round defeat to Malaga at Elland Road in December, but was not spotted by the match officials.

Bowyer was charged by Uefa and their control and disciplinary board have viewed the video evidence and deemed it to be 'an assault which was particularly dangerous'.

This is the second time Bowyer has been banned by Uefa for an off-the-ball incident after he was suspended during the 2000/01 season for a stamp on Valencia's Juan Sanchez.

Bowyer will not serve the sentence this season as Leeds are out of Europe, plus he is set to leave Elland Road before the transfer window closes at the end of January and none of his prospective new employers are involved in European competition.

The last player to receive such a hefty punishment from Europe's governing body was Igor Stimac, after he handled a match official during Hadjuk Split's clash with Mallorca in August 2001.

Bowyer may appeal against the decision and the player's agent confirmed he may do so.

"We are looking at whether to appeal against the decision," said David Geiss.