Vermaelen red card appeal rejected by FA

Arsenals appeal against the red card shown to defender Thomas Vermaelen in Saturdays win against West Ham was rejected by a disciplinary commission on Tuesday,the Football Association announced. Vermaelen will now serve an immediate one-game suspension,meaning he will miss Saturdays trip to Birmingham City. The Belgian was sent off shortly before half-time at the Emirates Stadium for bringing down the Hammers Guillermo Franco inside the penalty area.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 at the time and went on to win the Premier League match 2-0,with West Hams Alessandro Diamanti missing the penalty which followed Vermaelens red card. An FA statement issued Tuesday said: At a regulatory commission hearing today,a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen was dismissed. Vermaelen was shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity during Arsenals match against West Ham United on Saturday 20 March. He will now serve a one match suspension with immediate effect.