Jamie Vardy will be unavailable for Leicester City when West Ham visit the King Power on New Year’s Eve after the Football Association upheld his suspension.
Leicester had appealed the three match suspension handed to their striker for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf in the first half of a 2-2 draw away to Stoke City on Saturday.
However the FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission deemed referee Craig Pawson to have made the correct call in sending Vardy off and the 29-year-old will now miss games against Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough.
In a brief statement the FA confirmed: “Jamie Vardy will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after his wrongful dismissal claim was rejected, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.
“The Leicester City striker was sent off for serious foul play during the game at Stoke City on Saturday 17 December 2016.”
Vardy had seen red on his previous last meeting with West Ham in what was to prove another contentious decision. The England international had scored in the first half but was sent off for perceived simulation after going down under a challenge from Angelo Ogbonna.
