Tottenham Hotspur Football Club News

• Nickname:Spurs
• Founded:1882
• Manager:Harry Redknapp

• Ground:White Hart Lane
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FA rejects Keane appeal

04 Dec 2007 - 16:10:58

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Tottenham Hotspur's appeal against the sending-off of Robbie Keane in the 3-2 home defeat by Birmingham City has been rejected by the Football Association.

Spurs had been hopeful that referee Phil Dowd would rescind the red card after viewing video evidence of the incident, having dismissed Keane for a late challenge on Blues midfielder Fabrice Muamba.

However, that has not proved to be the case and Keane will now serve a three-match suspension, sitting out league games with Manchester City and Portsmouth and the Carling Cup clash with the Citizens.

Keane had said after the incident: "Anyone who's seen me play over the years knows that I'm not a dirty player. I never go into a tackle looking to hurt anyone.

"The two of us went for the ball, we both got a bit of the ball and Fabrice said sorry for what happened to me after the game. That says it all.

"The referee didn't explain why he was sending me off, but there was no point me arguing because I wasn't going to change his mind.

"I like to think I'm honest and, if it was a bad tackle, I'd hold my hands up and admit it. But everyone in the ground knew it wasn't a sending-off."