Stoke City forward Jonathan Walters has had his appeal against the red card picked up at Norwich City on Saturday turned down by the Football Association.
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caption:Jonathan Walters was sent off five minutes after scoring at Norwich.
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Walters, 30, had a mixed afternoon at Carrow Road scoring the Potters’ 73rd-minute equaliser from the penalty spot during the 1-1 draw, before being sent off just five minutes later.
The Republic of Ireland international was dismissed by referee Andre Marriner for a dangerous challenge on Canaries midfielder Alex Tettey.
However, English football’s governing body announced via a statement on its official website on Tuesday that the appeal has not been successful.
The statement read: “Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim of wrongful dismissal concerning Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters was rejected.
“Walters was dismissed for serious foul play during the game against Norwich City on March 8, 2014.
“His three-match suspension will commence with immediate effect."
Walters will sit out the Premier League games against West Ham, Aston Villa and Hull.
Stoke responded to the news by issuing a statement of their own on their official website, claiming that they have been treated unfairly, while other Premier League clubs have been let off.
The statement read: “The club gave careful consideration to whether or not to appeal Jon’s sending-off but we felt compelled to do so in the interest of consistency after three incidents of a more serious nature in the Premier League last weekend failed to result in red cards.
“We are disappointed with the lack of consistency that this decision seemingly supports.”