LONDON — Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was yesterday handed a three-match ban for stamping on the face of Arsenal’s Robin van Persie.

Announcing the ruling, the Football Association (FA) said the ban will be applied immediately, ruling Adebayor out of Sunday’s derby against Manchester United, as well as next week’s League Cup tie at home to Fulham and West Ham’s league visit on September 28.

Togo striker Adebayor has not contested a charge of violent conduct arising from the incident in City’s 4-2 win over his former club Arsenal on Saturday.

After van Persie had slid into a tackle on his former team-mate, Adebayor appeared to deliberately bring his right boot down on to his opponent’s face in what the Dutch forward described as a “malicious and mindless” assault.

Adebayor could face a further suspension as a result of a charge of improper conduct, which was made after he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate his goal in the match in front of Arsenal’s supporters.

That charge will be considered at a later date with City having been given until September 30 to respond to the charge.

The ban could hardly have come at a worse time for City boss Mark Hughes with Carlos Tevez doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford and both Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz unavailable.

Adebayor has made a superb start to his City career, scoring in each of the club’s league games since his 25-million-pound move from Arsenal.

After Saturday’s match, he publicly apologised for his conduct and claimed he had been overcome by emotion after receiving sustained abuse from the Arsenal fans, many of whom had turned against the striker in his final year at the Emirates.