NEW recruit Diego Rico will be forced to sit out Cherries’ first three games of the season after overstepping the mark on his farewell appearance for former club Leganés.

Rico collected a three-match ban after receiving two bookings in quick succession during the Madrid-based club’s 3-2 victory over La Liga rivals Real Betis in May.

Cautioned for a foul on Joel Campbell, Rico then received a second yellow card after sarcastically applauding the referee’s decision to book him.

And while the standard punishment for a red card due to two bookings is a one-match suspension, Rico got himself in more hot water as he left the pitch.

The 25-year-old defender spoke out of turn to a linesman and was subsequently hit with an additional two-match ban.

It will rule him out of Cherries’ Premier League clashes against Cardiff, West Ham and Everton.

Rico has picked up 40 yellow and four red cards in 174 appearances for Real Zaragoza and Leganés.

Prior to his sending-off against Betis, he had gone three-and-a-half years without receiving his marching orders.

He has also been suspended on six occasions for accumulating either five or 10 bookings.

His only straight red card came during a 4-0 defeat for Zaragoza against Deportivo Alavés in February 2015 when his challenge on Marco Sangalli was deemed as serious foul play.

Rico could feature for Cherries when they continue their pre-season friendly campaign at Bristol City on Friday and at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.