Middlesbrough FC

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Aliadiere handed longer ban

26 Feb 2008 - 15:40:41

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The Football Association has rejected Middlesbrough's appeal against Jeremie Aliadiere's dismissal in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool and handed the Frenchman an extra one-match ban.

The former Arsenal star will now serve a four-game suspension after being sent off for violent conduct.

Aliadiere was dismissed in the closing stages of the Anfield encounter for slapping Javier Mascherano, after the Reds midfielder had grabbed the Boro player's face as the pair waited for a throw-in.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate had said after the game that referee Lee Mason was right to dismiss Aliadiere, telling the club's official website: "If you raise your hands away from home with a young referee there isn't much alternative.

"But I'm not going to crucify Jeremie. He's been fantastic all season, and it's a lesson he's got to learn from.

"The harshest thing for him is he's going to miss three games and, with the strikers we've got now, he's going to have to sit out and work his way back into the side."

The 24-year-old striker has scored three goals in 23 appearances for the Teessiders so far this season.