Mido's Three-Game Ban Stands!

Mido will serve a three-game suspension after being sent off in the final exchanges at The Emirates on Saturday evening.

The striker was dismissed for dangerous play, after his raised boot caught Gael Clichy on the side of the head and left him needing to be stretchered from the field for treatment.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was hopeful that match referee Mark Halsey would rescind the card on further reflection, however it has been confirmed that the only way the suspension can be cut is through an appeal process.

Southgate told mfc.co.uk that he thought an appeal would be pointless.

'Having spoken to the referee's chief and to the referee himself, their feeling is that the decision won't be altered.'

'We're not very happy about it but I can see why the referee has sent the lad off under those rules. But a three-match ban is very harsh,' he added.

The Egyptian will now miss the visit of Derby County on Saturday, as well as the home game against Manchester United, the trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur, and most probably the encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which has been postponed but is more than likely to be played within that period.

The news comes just after the side welcomed back Jeremie Aliadiere from a four-match ban, after the club's appeal against his petulant slap on Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, was branded 'frivolous.'

Southgate, however, backed his striker and claimed he felt that Mido was making a genuine attempt to play the ball.

'I don't think he meant it. He caught him but he was looking at the ball the whole time, and Mido is distraught because he's not a dirty player,' said Southgate.

In light of the Aliadiere case, it would perhaps be advisable for the club to let this one lie.


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