Man City's Fernandinho to serve four-match ban after appeal rejected
LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho will miss four games after the Football Association rejected his appeal against a straight red card he received during Monday's win over Burnley.
The Brazilian was sent off before halftime following a two-footed lunge on Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
"His suspension includes the standard sanction of an additional game as it was his second dismissal of the season (in the Premier League)," the FA said in a statement.
Fernandinho will miss Friday's FA Cup third-round match with West Ham United, followed by Premier League games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. The fourth match he will sit out will depend on Friday's cup result.
It was his third red card in his last six appearances -- the other two coming against Chelsea in the Premier League and Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League.
He was given a straight red for catching Cesc Fabregas by his throat in their 3-1 loss at home to Chelsea. Sergio Aguero was also sent off in the same match for his tackle on David Luiz. It was the harsh tackle that led to Fernandinho and Fabregas fighting.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)