Keane hit with ban as appeal is rejected

TOTTENHAM captain Robbie Keane has lost his appeal against the red card he received for serious foul play in the Premier League defeat to Birmingham.

The striker, 27, will now serve a three-match domestic suspension as a result of the dismissal for a challenge on Blues’ Fabrice Muamba as Spurs crashed to a 3-2 defeat courtesy of an injury-time wonder goal from Sebastian Larsson on Sunday.

Tottenham had argued the decision was harsh and that referee Phil Dowd had consulted with the fourth official before producing the red card. Keane will miss league games against Manchester City and Portsmouth and a Carling Cup tie against the former side.