Duo have appeals rejected
27 Feb 2007 - 16:11:54
The Football Association have continued a busy day at their Soho Square headquarters by rejecting Emmanuel Adebayor and John Obi Mikel's claims for wrongful dismissal relating to the stoppage time brawl which marred Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Mikel was dismissed by referee Howard Webb for his part in starting the incident, while Arsenal's Adebayor followed alongside team-mate Kolo Toure.
Adebayor claimed he was the victim of mistaken identity and had to be escorted off the pitch by team-mates and down the tunnel by non-playing captain Thierry Henry was watching on from the sidelines.
The Togo international has since been charged with reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being shown a red card.
Referring to the rejection of the appeals lodged on behalf of Adebayor and Mikel, an FA statement read: "At a disciplinary commission hearing, Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea's John Obi Mikel had claims for wrongful dismissal rejected.
"Adebayor will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect. Mikel will serve a four-match suspension, also with immediate effect, as it was his second sending off of the season.
"Adebayor's claim was not a claim for mistaken identity."
