Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has branded Stephane Sessgnon "stupid" for picking up a red card in the Tyne-Wear derby at the weekend.
The midfielder was sent off for appearing to elbow Newcastle United's Cheick Tiote during the Black Cats' 1-1 draw with the Magpies.
Sessegnon will miss the next three games, while Lee Cattermole will serve a four-match ban for seeing red after the final whistle due to confronting referee Mike Dean.
"Sessegnon was daft," said O'Neill. "You can't raise your hands. It was stupid. Lee should leave speaking to referees to me."
Sunderland currently sit 12th in the Premier League table with a fixture against Liverpool this weekend.
