Bowyer banned for three games after appeal fails

Given Lee Bowyer's chequered past, the authorities were never likely to look kindly on his latest indiscretion and yesterday the Newcastle United midfielder duly lost his appeal against his dismissal at Liverpool on Boxing Day and must now serve a three-match ban.

The 28-year-old received a straight red card from the referee Mark Halsey for serious foul play for a challenge on Xabi Alonso and, although he appealed, his case was rejected yesterday. Bowyer will miss the trip to Tottenham tomorrow, the derby with Middlesbrough two days later and the FA Cup third-round tie against Mansfield.

The Portsmouth striker Lomana LuaLua has been charged with improper conduct for comments he made about referee Uriah Rennie, who awarded a late penalty to Tottenham Hotspur in Pompey's defeat on 12 December.

"It does not help when the referee is playing for the other team," said LuaLua, who has until 17 January to respond to the FA charge.

Francis Jeffers will return to Charlton Athletic after failing to win a permanent move to Rangers.

The Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna will be out of action for up to eight weeks after fracturing his right ankle.