Wigan Athletic defender Antolin Alcaraz has issued an apology after he spat on Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Richard Stearman during a match last weekend.

The 29-year-old will now face a three-match ban after he was charged by the Football Association over the incident at Molineux.

"I would like to apologise for my actions following the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Sunday," he told the club's official website.

"I apologise to anyone connected to our football club for the offence and upset that my actions have caused. I reacted wrongly after being provoked but I never meant to spit on an opposing player.

"I was having a confrontation with Christophe Berra and in wanting to show my frustration, my intention was spit on the ground beside him, which was my way of answering the verbal abuse that I was receiving.

"Unfortunately, as you can see in the video evidence, my spit, instead of finding the ground, regrettably struck Richard Stearman in the chest, and I apologise to him for this.

"I apologise to my fellow players, staff, supporters and everyone associated with Wigan Athletic for the problems this has caused."

Wigan are currently bottom of the Premier League table after a poor start to the season.