FA dismiss Barton appeal

The FA have rejected Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton’s appeal against his dismissal in Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich.

The midfielder was dismissed after appearing to headbutt Norwich’s Bradley Johnson at Loftus Road, before taking to Twitter to vent his fury at the officials decision.

Both Barton and QPR manager Neil Warnock suggested that Johnson had ‘conned’ the referee and linesman into sending him off, and that the club fully intended to appeal the decision.

However, an Independent Regulatory Commission upheld Barton’s red card on Wednesday, meaning the 29-year-old will serve a three-match ban, and miss the clash against former side Newcastle United on January 15.

A statement on The FA’s official website reads: “An Independent Regulatory Commission has today (Wednesday January 4) dismissed a claim of wrongful dismissal from Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton following his red card for violent conduct in the QPR v Norwich City game on 2 January 2012.”

“Barton will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect.”