The Football Association has rejected the appeals against the dismissals of Emmanuel Adebayor and John Obi Mikel.

The duo were sent off for their part in the mass brawl that marred the Carling Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal on Sunday.

Chelsea substitute Mikel tangled with Gunners defender Kolo Toure, who was also sent off, before players from both sides waded in.

Arsenal striker Adebayor protested his innocence, insisting that referee Howard Webb had sent off the wrong player.

The Gunners lodged an appeal against Adebayor's red card on Monday evening, but The FA has upheld Webb's decision and charged the striker with reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately.

Adebayor will now serve a three-match suspension, meaning he will miss the FA Cup replay against Blackburn on Wednesday, the Premiership clash with Reading on Saturday and possibly the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on Sunday week.

If Arsenal do not advance in the FA Cup he would miss the trip to Aston Villa on March 14. He will be eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven.

Mikel, meanwhile, will miss Chelsea's next four domestic games after seeing his appeal rejected, as it was the second time this season he had been given his marching orders.

Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue, who escaped punishment in Cardiff, has been charged with violent conduct after replays showed him clashing with Wayne Bridge.

Both he and Adebayor have until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to their charges


Ok, so Adebayor didn't hit bridge, and obviously was well pissed off. Bridge came out & defended him saying that it was Eboue, so what do the fa do? keep the red card standing, and charge him with not leaving the pitch & being aggressive. Of course he was, cup final & a wrong red card. How thick are these suit wearing bastards ? They've even acknowledged it wasn't adebayor who hit bridge by charging Eboue too. logic fails me