Fulham captain Michael Brown has been banned for three games after being found guilty of violent conduct by a Football Association disciplinary hearing.

Brown headbutted Liverpool's Xabi Alonso during his side's 1-0 victory over the Reds, leaving the Spanish midfielder nursing a bloody nose, but denied the charge.

Referee Steve Bennett, his assistants and the fourth official all failed to act after missing the incident and Brown remained on the field as Clint Dempsey's solitary strike won the game.

Brown will now miss his side's final fixture of the season, against Middlesbrough on Sunday, as well as the Cottagers' first two games next season.

The FA, meanwhile, also confirmed that Manchester City's Michael Ball would serve a three-match ban of his own after pleading guilty to a charge of violent conduct for a stamp on Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.