Alcaraz handed three-match ban

Wigan Athletic will be without Antolin Alcaraz for three matches after he accepted the Football Association (FA) charge that he spat at Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Richard Stearman during Sunday's 3-1 defeat. The 29-year-old Paraguayan international centre-back, signed from Belgian side Club Brugge last year after an eye-catching FIFA World Cup™ campaign, has only recently returned to action after being out with a torn leg muscle. Wigan issued a statement following his acceptance of the charge saying that he will also be punished by them. "The matter will be treated with utmost seriousness and be dealt with internally, according to the club's code of conduct," read a statement from Wigan. Alcaraz's suspension will see him miss matches against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, as well as Arsenal. Wigan only escaped relegation on the final day of last season and face another long battle to avoid the drop this time as they have won just once in 11 matches this term and are five points adrift of safety.