Martin Skrtel stands on David de Gea’s right shin. (Reuters)Agencies/LondonLiverpool’s Martin Skrtel will serve a three-game suspension after losing his appeal against a charge for standing on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, the Football Association announced yesterday. The Slovakia centre-back, 30, was charged with violent conduct on the basis of video evidence after referee Martin Atkinson missed the incident, which occurred at the end of United’s 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday. Skrtel appealed against the charge, reportedly claiming that he had trodden on De Gea accidentally, but his explanation was rejected. “Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven,” the FA said in a statement on its website. “The defender had denied the charge which related to an on-field incident involving Manchester United’s David de Gea in the 95th minute of Sunday’s game which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video. However, an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today found the charge proven.” Skrtel was chasing a ball into the United box in stoppage time of the Premier League game and when De Gea got there before him, he followed through by standing on the Spaniard’s right shin. He will miss Liverpool’s Premier League games at Arsenal and at home to Newcastle United, as well as their FA Cup quarter-final replay away to second-tier Blackburn Rovers on April 8. Skrtel pre-empted the FA’s announcement by posting a picture of three clowns on his Instagram page, alongside the caption: “...”Belgium defender Vermaelen back in training with Barca Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen has trained with his teammates for the first time since surgery on a hamstring injury, the La Liga leaders said. The Belgium international, who has been unable to make his Barca debut after picking up the injury at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, said last week he was targeting a return to action next month. Vermaelen sustained the injury before he signed for Barca from Arsenal, prompting some to question why the club completed the deal to sign the 29-year-old. “The main novelty at the training session was Thomas Vermaelen,” Barca said. “The Belgian defender was able to complete part of training with the rest of the group,” they added. After the international break, Barca’s next outing is a La Liga game at Celta Vigo. They are four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid following Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the arch rivals in the ‘Clasico’ at the Nou Camp.