Cardiff lose appeal against Joe Ralls three-game ban for red card against Tottenham at the weekend

CARDIFF have lost their appeal against Joe Ralls’ red card versus Tottenham last weekend.

Ralls was sent off by referee Mike Dean for a tackle on Lucas Moura in the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Wembley – sparking a touchline row.

Cardiff appealed the three-match ban because they did not believe the challenge fell under the sanction for serious foul play.

But the Football Association disciplinary panel, who watched video evidence, rejected the appeal.

As a result, Ralls will now miss Premier League games against Fulham at home after the international break followed by an away trip to Liverpool and a showdown with Leicester at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock was adamant after the game that the challenge warranted just a yellow card.

“At that stage with half an hour to go, on the halfway line… it wasn’t a dangerous tackle, he hasn’t endangered the life of a player so I don’t know why it’s a red card.

“I think Mike [Dean] when he sees it, he’ll be disappointed really. A third of the refs would probably give it, two thirds would probably give a yellow card.

“I thought Mike, an experienced referee, was going to give a yellow card from the start,

“But he left it – there were on or two busy people around today, the linesman and the fourth official – and I’m sure one of those influenced them.

“I think when he looks tonight he would have given a yellow card nine times out of 10 if it was left to him. I think he was wrong.”