Leicester dishes out thousands of Jamie Vardy masks in ban protest

Jamie Vardy was not there on the pitch against Everton, but there were plenty of images of him in the stands at the King Power Stadium on Monday.

The Leicester City striker was banned for three matches by the Football Association for a two-footed challenge on Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf on December 17.

Replays suggested referee Craig Pawson's decision had been harsh, with Vardy losing his footing in a tangle with Glen Johnson on his way into the challenge and then appearing to get some of the ball anyway.

But Leicester's appeal against the ban was rejected by the FA and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha labelled the punishment as "unfair".

And in protest at the governing body's decision, Leicester's owners placed masks of Vardy's face on around 30,000 seats for the Boxing Day meeting with Everton.