Tottenham Hotspur Football Club News

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

• Ground:White Hart Lane
• Capacity:36,240

Keane verdict shocks Spurs

05 Dec 2007 - 16:03:43

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Tottenham Hotspur have spoken of their disappointment at the FA's decision to upholdRobbie Keane's three-match ban following the Republic of Ireland international's red card in Sunday's home defeat to Birmingham City.

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 sit out the league games with Manchester City and Portsmouth and the Carling Cup clash with the Citizens.

Club secretary John Alexander told Spurs' official website: "The club has backed Robbie 100 per cent with his appeal and we are disappointed with the verdict.

"The justification for upholding the referee's decision makes no sense to us, and if Robbie had been given an opportunity to attend - the current rules do not give him any opportunity to attend at the hearing of his appeal - we believe that the verdict would have been different.

"It is frustrating for Robbie that he is now forced to miss three games whilst players who committed similar, or in many cases, worse, tackles at the weekend are free to play.

"We shall be writing to the FA to express our concerns."