City and Hammers lose appeals
Stuart Pearce was left unimpressed by the red card
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Thursday, 28, Dec 2006 03:29
Manchester City and West Ham have lost their respective appeals against the red cards given to Joey Barton and Paul Konchesky.
Barton was dismissed by referee Mike Riley three minutes from time in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Bolton for a two-footed lunge on Abdoulaye Faye.
Konchesky was dismissed by referee Chris Foy on 85 minutes in West Ham's 0-0 draw with Fulham on the same day for a professional foul on Wayne Routledge.
Television replays seemed to suggest that Konchesky had won the ball and his trailing leg had caught Routledge, while City boss Stuart Pearce said Riley had been harsh in giving a straight red to Barton.
But the FA has today dismissed both appeals, meaning both players will serve suspensions - Barton for three games and Konchesky for one.
"At a disciplinary commission hearing today, Manchester City's Joey Barton had a claim for wrongful dismissal rejected and will therefore serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect," an FA statement read.
"West Ham United's Paul Konchesky also had his claim rejected. Konchesky was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity at Fulham on December 23rd and will serve a one-match suspension."
Because the appeals were lodged during the Christmas period when the FA office was closed, both players were able to play for their clubs on Boxing Day.
Barton was involved in City's crucial 1-0 win over Sheffield United while Konchesky played as the Hammers went down 2-1 to Portsmouth.