Mascherano´s appeal rejected

Liverpool failed Thursday in their appeal against an extension of Javier Mascherano's ban for being sent off against Manchester United last month from one to three matches.

Mascherano will now serve the remaining one match of his suspension with immediate effect and so will be ruled out of Sunday's Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.

He had already served the first match of the suspension imposed on April 3 in addition to a one match ban for the sending-off.

The Argentina international, who was also fined 15,000 pounds (30,000 dollars) by the Football Association, admitted a charge of improper conduct over his failure to leave the pitch following the red card issued on March 23 in a match league leaders United went on to win 3-0.

Liverpool believed past precedents meant there was a case for the ban only being two matches.

Mascherano appealed on the grounds that the punishment was excessive but this was dismissed by an FA appeals panel.