FA reject Defoe red card appeal

The Football Association have rejected Jermain Defoe’s appeal for wrongful dismissal in West Ham’s match at Walsall on December 20.

The England Under-21 international – reported to be a target for Manchester United in the January transfer window – was shown a straight red card by referee Scott Matheson for what the official saw as a kick at Walsall’s Ian Roper in the Nationwide Division One clash.

Hammers manager Alan Pardew claimed Defoe intended to kick the floor in frustration and did not mean to aim it in Roper’s direction.

But the FA’s video advisory panel did not agree and decided the red card will not be rescinded and the player, who netted in his team’s 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest on Sunday, will serve a five-match suspension.

The dismissal was Defoe’s third of the season and came in only his second game back after serving a five-match ban for a dismissal against West Brom.

He will miss Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Wigan and the league matches at Sheffield United and Bradford, as well as the home games against Preston and Rotherham.