FA rejects Koscielny appeal

Arsenal’s appeal against Laurent Koscielny’s red card has been dismissed by the Football Association and the defender will serve a two-match ban.

The Gunners’ claim of wrongful dismissal was turned down at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Tuesday.

Centre-back Koscielny was given his marching orders against Newcastle on Sunday after referee Mike Dean deemed he had brought down Magpies substitute Nile Ranger in stoppage-time.

He was shown a straight red card for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity and will serve a two-match suspension with immediate effect as the sending off was his second of the season.

An FA statement confirming the ruling, read: “At an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny was rejected.

“As a result, Koscielny will serve a two-match suspension with immediate effect as this was his second dismissal of the season.

“Koscielny was dismissed for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Newcastle on 7 November.”

The 25-year-old Frenchman, who made a £9.7million move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer from Lorient, was also shown two yellow cards on his Premier League debut at Liverpool in August.

The ban will see Koscielny miss Wednesday’s visit to Wolves and Sunday’s trip to Everton.