Football: Windass `sent off three times'

The Aberdeen striker Dean Windass will be out of action until Christmas after receiving a massive 22 penalty points at Dundee United on Sunday.

Referee Stuart Dougal's match report reveals Windass was effectively sent off three times in the opening half of the Dons' 5-0 Scottish League Premier Division defeat.

The Scottish Football Association has ruled that Windass must serve a six-match ban, which expires on 27 December, to add to a club fine of two weeks' wages. Windass was initially dismissed for two bookable offences, but his initial dissent at Dougal earned a further red-card equivalent.

To compound matters Windass ripped up the corner flag and threw it on to the ground on his way to the tunnel, securing another eight points.

The Dons' caretaker manager, Keith Burkinshaw, said yesterday: "It is imperative that players learn not to lose their discipline, as Dean has found to his cost."