Blackburn Appeal Fails…Again!

After lodging an appeal to the FA on Monday against the sending off of Stephane Henchoz against Newcastle United at the weekend Blackburn Rovers have failed… Again!

With Newcastle striker Obafemi Martin out on the wing Dermot Gallagher deemed that the Swiss defender (playing his third successive Premiership match for Rovers) had denied the Nigerian International a goalscoring opportunity. At the time it seemed harsh, several replays later it doesn't get any less so. It was a clumsy looking challenge but was it really denying a clear goalscoring opportunity…

After the Football Associations disciplinary commission reviewed the incident today they decided to uphold the decision rejecting Rovers claim for unfair dismissal so Henchoz will now serve a one-match ban meaning he'll miss the game with Reading on Saturday

This isn't the first time an appeal has been unsuccessful this season as the FA also dismissed the calls for Tugay's red card against Tottenham Hotspur to be overturned, although they did rescind Andy Todd's red on the opening day of the season so one out of three isn't bad! (Not a hint of cynicism at all here!)

Henchoz's suspension could mean Andy Todd playing again when it looked like he might never again for Rovers as little as three or four days ago! With Henchoz cup-tied in the UEFA Cup in any event it was always highly likely the former Rovers captain would play against Nancy tomorrow as Zurab Khizinashvilli is struggling with injury, which if not rectified by Saturday could again see Toddy play in the League, which would only add further backing to Toddy's chances of one final Rovers reprieve?!?!

After this latest shambles from the FA we have to laugh really don't we, even if it does seem everything on and off the pitch (not saying that it is) is going against Rovers…

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