Chelsea's Ivanovic handed three-match ban

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on Thursday had his appeal against an FA charge for violent conduct rejected.

The charge relates to an incident involving Ivanovic and Wigan Athletic's Shaun Maloney during the clubs' Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, April 7.

The incident was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video.

A Regulatory Commission heard the Serbian defender's appeal and judged that his three-match suspension should stand.

The ban will commence with immediate effect, ruling him out of Sunday's FA Cup semifinal against Tottenham Hotspur as well as the Premier League games against Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers.

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