FA reject Carling Cup appeals

The Football Association have rejected the appeals of Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi for wrongful dismissal in the Carling Cup final.

Both were sent off for violent conduct during stoppage-time of Sunday's match, along with Gunners defender Kolo Toure, but on Monday contested match referee Howard Webb's decision.

Tuesday's decision means Adebayor will serve a three-match ban, while Mikel will miss Chelsea's next four domestic matches as it was his second dismissal of the season.

Adebayor has therefore been ruled out of Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Blackburn as well as Saturday's Barclays Premiership home clash with Reading.

Should Arsenal beat Blackburn, he would also sit out the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on Sunday week. If not, the ban would carry over to the March 14 Premiership trip to Aston Villa.

Adebayor elected to appeal for wrongful dismissal rather than claiming mistaken identity.

He was earlier dealt another FA charge for failing to leave the field of play after receiving his red card at the Millennium Stadium.

He has until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to that charge.

Mikel, meanwhile, is suspended for Saturday's Premiership clash at Portsmouth, the FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham on Sunday week, the Premiership visit to Manchester City on March 14 and the home league clash with Sheffield United three days later.