Chelsea’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben was banned for four matches on Tuesday after his appeal against a red card in the champions’ 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion was rejected.
Robben, whose punishment will take immediate effect, was sent off for serious foul play on Saturday after his two-footed lunge at West Brom midfielder Jonathan Greening.
Though the offence usually carries a three-match ban, the Football Association suspended Robben for four games because it was his second dismissal of the season. He was red-carded against Sunderland in January.
Robben will miss Chelsea’s next three Premier League games – against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Manchester City – plus their FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United.
