Teddy Sheringham yesterday lost his appeal to overturn the red card he received against Ipswich Town and one of Tottenham's most influential players will now be banned for three games.
After replaying the incident of December 22nd the match referee Mike Riley and the Football Association video-review panel agreed that the England striker should have been sent off for allegedly punching Ipswich's John McGreal. Sheringham argued he was simply trying to prevent the defender hanging on to his shirt.
"It certainly looks worse on television than it actually was," Sheringham said. "Maybe I can understand why the referee made the decision he did."
Sheringham will now miss tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Coventry City, the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Chelsea next Wednesday and the return Premiership clash with Ipswich at Portman Road.
Blackburn's out-of-favour full-back Jeff Kenna hopes to make his loan move to First Division club Birmingham City a permanent one.
Kenna has helped the Blues keep two clean sheets in three games since signing on loan from the Ewood Park club.
The Republic of Ireland international has been out of favour at Blackburn since Graeme Souness took over as manager.
"Since Graeme Souness took over at Blackburn it hasn't worked out for me," Kenna told Birmingham's official website.
"But the gaffer (Steve Bruce) has given me a chance to play and hopefully I can earn a contract at the end of it."
The English Football Association have confirmed that no official decision has yet been taken on Jonathan Woodgate's international future.
Reports yesterday indicated the defender is set to be called up by Sven-Goran Eriksson when he has completed a sentence of 100 hours' community service for his recent conviction for affray.
Hibernian and Celtic have switched the kick-off time for their Premier League game on February 2nd to accommodate television.
BSkyB will now broadcast the Easter Road game at 5.35 p.m. on the same day after the game wasmoved from its original 3 p.m. start.
Former Derby manager Jim Smith has been appointed assistant manager to Roland Nilsson at First Division Coventry City.
The former Leeds United striker Andy Ritchie has returned to Elland Road to become the new director of the club's youth academy.
