FA Upholds Cole and Knight Red Cards

Zat Knight has lost his appeal against the red card he received in Aston Villa's 4-4 Boxing Day draw with Chelsea and been given a one-match suspension. The Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has also had his dismissal for deliberate handball confirmed by the FA's regulatory commission.

Knight was sent off when he was adjudged to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity by fouling Michael Ballack in first-half stoppage time at Stamford Bridge. He is now set to miss tomorrow's Premier League game against Wigan.

"We are obviously disappointed because we felt we had a case," said the Villa manager Martin O'Neill. "But we abide by the decision and prepare for tomorrow's important game at Wigan without him."

Cole, meanwhile, was dismissed for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the final seconds of the game when he was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line. After losing his appeal, Cole will also serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect, ruling him out of tomorrow's home game with Newcastle.