Boss Roy Keane says he’s glad he’s no longer playing if Jon Stead’s tackle on Crystal Palace's Freddie Sears is worthy of a four-match ban. Stead’s appeal against his red card at Palace was rejected by an independent FA Disciplinary Commission yesterday, who added an additional fourth match to his suspension as they felt the appeal was frivolous and had no chance of success.

Keane said: “We’re obviously very disappointed. If that tackle deserves four games I’m glad I’m not playing any more.

“It was only a yellow, but that’s what happens. Steady is as honest as the day is long and I’ve seen the tackle over and over again and it’s a yellow card at the most and he ends up being out for the best part of a month.”

The Blues boss says he is as sorry for the player as he is annoyed at losing his on-form frontman at a vital stage of the season: “He didn’t even deserve a three-match ban and we’re disappointed for the player. He’s never been sent off before, but I best say no more. He’s a good striker, we’re going to miss him.”

Keane says he’s yet to analyse why the FA Commission took their decision when most observers, including Palace manager Neil Warnock, felt the decision was harsh: “We got the report last night by email, I’ve not seen it yet. No doubt the words they will use will be that we were only wasting their time, as has happened with other managers. It happened to Steve Bruce recently, it happened to Gareth Southgate last year.

“If it was a bad tackle and we did chance our arm a little I could get my head round it, but I think it’s a yellow at most and nobody’s going to change my mind on that.”

The Town manager admits that the affair will make him think twice before making similar appeals in the future and says he hasn’t had too much luck with similar significant decisions having failed to go his way both on and off the field in his time as a boss: “I’ve been a manager for 100 games at Sunderland and 20 here and I don’t remember many major decisions like that going my way and I could name a few.

“I don’t mind the referee making a wrong decision but to get an extra game on top of that, it’s lucky I’m not paranoid.”

Keane says the player is upset at missing a month’s football: “The boy’s devastated. He’s a striker in a decent bit of form. Four games is a lot. I think I got five once, but four’s a lot for that tackle.”

Stead begins his ban when the Blues travel to Blackpool for the third round FA Cup tie on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

brogansnose added 15:14 - Dec 31 Kantalla; a bookable offence but certainly not a red card and it was issued by a referee with a track history of throwing cards about like confetti. Its perhaps not a surprise that the ban wasnt lifted but the addition of the extra game ban shows the arrogance and high - handedness of the FA. The FA seem to do little to act on the incompetance of referees at this level abd to keep decisions consistent. Believe me we do get to see a lot of bizarre refereeing.

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AJblue added 15:21 - Dec 31 Is it me,or if you belong to an appeals panel,surely the whole point is to listen to appeals. I know that in some cases these appeals may seem unwarranted,but surely the fact that an appeals panel exists,the FA accept that their representatives (the refs) can and do make mistakes. To then penalise an appeal,when having an appeals panel suggests that it is encouraged to appeal, seems not only downright unfair, but at best contrary to the whole point of having an appeals panel. Steads card, and yes, i think it was a booking, was a yellow at best, i defy anyone (other than the FA) to deny that. What this needed was someone at the FA to remember who football is for (us the fans), and seen common sense. Warn Stead to his future behaviour and admit that a "card happy" referee made a mistake. The only problem with my statement there, is the fact i expect the FA to act with common sense, and to care about the fans (silly me)

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nobrain added 15:23 - Dec 31 Mosocw_Blue- thanks for that. I'd be interested to understand the FA definition of 'grounds for appeal' - as I assume that this is what is used in order to judge whether or not an appeal is 'frivolous'.
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AJblue added 15:33 - Dec 31 nobrain if a, sorry 'bout this,"no brain" decision like this one is deemed frivolous, then there is no hope for anyone. The FA may as well just do away with the appeals panel,in some ways this would be more honest, the message they seem keen to send is "referees do not make mistakes, and if they do, which they dont, we will back them to the hilt, and punish you for even thinking that they may be wrong!" Seems to me that if there were not any means of appeal, at least you would know where you stand,at the moment all there is a facade of fairness, which when closely examined does not exist

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MACKEMYANK added 15:56 - Dec 31 Interesting !!! A post I made on here slagging off the FA has vanished !!!! The FA is onto us and deleting posts. If you are reading this FA - you are worth sweet FA. Delete my arse.
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brogansnose added 16:08 - Dec 31 Mackem; one of mine went missing today re; the FA.Its getting a bit scary...the FA acting as the KGB. By the way , thanks for Grant Leadbitter and can we keep Colback?
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Back_The_Boss added 16:19 - Dec 31 Pathetic, the challenge was worthy of a yellow card. Not a red card and a 4 match ban!
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matt_the_blue added 16:59 - Dec 31 Roosta - I don't think the analogy of being in a car accident can be applied to this. As has been stated several times here lately FIFA Law 12 clearly states what penalties should be imposed for offences, and if the club believed the ref's interpretation was incorrect and led to a red card instead of a yellow then surely that's grounds for appeal? If not then in my view the FA appeals system needs a serious overhaul...

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Roosta added 17:01 - Dec 31 @Moscow_Blue - I think he was sent off for Serious foul play, not for a 'reckless challenge' Again this backs my main point - you're asking an independant panel to review a decision made my a referee to see if they think a challenge was 'serious' or 'reckless' or 'dangerous' or simply a foul. I doubt that's in their remit, and that their main role is to overturn blatant errors such as mistake identity, or where 'simulation' has been used. The appeals process has it's place, but that place clearly isn't to overturn decisions which are a matter of opinion of the on field official. It would be good if the FA would come out and say as much, then at least we'd know where we all stand... The FA may well talk to the ref behind closed doors, which would be the correct thing to do, instead of challenging his opinion in public. Sorry, but I'm with the FA on this one. Much as it sucks to lose Stead for a month, and much as we've had enough bad luck to last a decade, something has to be done to restore the refs authority. Undermining them by reversing their decisions in public wouldn't do that. To clarify - matters of fact where the decision is an honest mistake (mistake indentiy, simulation, proven no contact) should be appealable Matters of opinion (clear scoring opportunity, deliberate / accidental hand ball, reckless / dangerous fouls) should not be. Just my opinion, cue flaming...

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AJblue added 17:04 - Dec 31 Roosta...sometimes the need to sound clever and superior doesnt win you friends does it?
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brendanh added 17:05 - Dec 31 I've done a quick google for FA Independent Regulatory Commission who made this silly decision. It's chairman is Nicholas Stewart QC - nstewart@elyplace.com I'd love to hear his explanation, it probably goes something like: "Well all the old boys had had a few xmas sherries, so it's all a bit hazy. We watched a replay of the Stead challenge, and although it was blatently not a dismissal offence, the commission's considered opinion was that it would be jolly good fun for us to rile that dreadful Keane fellow. Toodle pip."

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Roosta added 17:09 - Dec 31 @matt_the_blue, I take your point, but it depends what part of Law 12 you read. I assume he wasn't sent off because the tackle was reckless, he was sent off because his actions were deemed to be serious foul play. If you assume for a moment that the FA aren't stupid, the appeals panel does have a set remit, and that there isn't a conspiracy against the club, then the facts and events back up my explanation of how things have unfolded. I'm just trying to find an explanation and interpretation that makes sense. There is a thread here that everyone determined that the rules haven't been applied correctly. We don't know that because we don't know what the remit of the appeals panel is. I have no particular issue with the appeals process or the ref - as long as they're consistant and the rules are clear and transparent. What I have a problem with is Keane's reaction in the media (he needs to learn to not take a rise from the media who set him up for this) and the club for engaging in a process when they clearly don't understand the rules themselves.

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AJblue added 17:10 - Dec 31 Brendanh....great post, made me smile at a less than funny situation. Although in reality the statement would in all probabilty be less coherent, and use 96 words wher 2 would do!
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Roosta added 17:12 - Dec 31 @injured_animal - uhm, I don't come on here to "make friends" (I'm not 12 and this isn't bebo).
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AJblue added 17:16 - Dec 31 Roosta... you dont know when to give up do you? Refereeing will never be consistent, it is impossible, its like asking Delia not to be a condescending bint when taeching us how to boil water. The thing that has upset all the Town fans ('cept you it seems) is the gross unfairness of impossing the 4th match ban, when in all fair minded people, 3 matches was an insult in the first place. Whether YOU are with the FA on this one, or not is simply not the point. Referees do make mistakes, although the FA will have it they dont, and an appeals panel should be there to see that their mistakes are rectified, not just add insult to injury

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brendanh added 17:18 - Dec 31 Other members are Maurice Armstrong, Gary Mabbutt (!), and Gordon Milne. You'd have thought Mabbutt as a relatively recent ex-pro would know better.
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AJblue added 17:20 - Dec 31 Seeing your pevious post... Firstly dont know what Bebo is (thank God),secondly i never thought you were as mature as 12 LOL! Thirdly and finally, most people dont come on here to make friends, they come on here to show their support for Town, not the FA!
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StowTractorBoy added 17:25 - Dec 31 Cleary that idiot Referee Taylor would not review his decision which does not surprise me as he is arrogant to say the least. I have never rated the bloke as a Referee and never will - I believe he was on the Premier List for a short time but didn't last long hopefully, he will see out his time and disappear as soon as possible as he has never done us any favours. Don't think he will be apppointed at Portman in the near future. Roosta I can see your point of view but we had to appeal as more often than not that was a yellow card tackle not helped by the anticis of Sears and Palace protestations. One day our luck will change.

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Roosta added 17:27 - Dec 31 @injuredanimal. Yawn. Firstly I'm sounding superior, then I'm immature? Apologies for adding an alternative commentary and giving a different point of view. I didn't realise that an honest, reasonably literate and thoughtful discussion would be so offensive to you. My opinion is that a continued "them against us", "conspiracy theory", "everyone's against us" persecution complex isn't supportive of the Town. I support the Town, but I'm not going to blindly agree to actions from the people currently at the club that I disagree with. Supporting something doesn't have to equate to blind obedience. Thanks for making it personal though, real "mature" of you...

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Roosta added 17:32 - Dec 31 @Slowtractorboy - yup, I'd have been surprised if we hadn't appealed and I guess the club had to give it a go. If they'd come out and said "we won't appeal as we have no grounds... " then as fans we'd have understood. You'd kinda hope they knew what they were doing"! But as per my earlier comments, the FA need to make it clearer to clubs and players what is appealable and what isn't - at the moment the line id being draw by trial and error, at the expense of players like Stead and us as fans.

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AJblue added 17:40 - Dec 31 Jesus Roosta, you really are wound tightly arent you? FFS its good this forum, but it aint the supreme court, you could be 40, 6 or even 85, age aint got anything to do with it ...grow up, learn to take criticism and get that lemon from up your arse!
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Roosta added 17:47 - Dec 31 @Injuredanimal You're about as consistant as a Championship referee... You brought age up, then say it's got nothing to do with it?! You say I'm acting "superior" then tell me to "grow up". I don't even want to know what "lemon up the arse" means... You've missed my point completely, I'm not wound up, just the opposite. I'm suggesting we just chill out, accept the decision and take our medicine. I'm trying to explain why it might have been made as it is, that's all. I'm not agreeing that a 4 match ban is correct, I'm just explaining why I think the appeals panel probably had no choice. We're not gonna change the referees, so getting our knickers in a twist is just gonna see people blowing hot air. What we can influence is ourselves, our own club and how we conduct ourselves. That might just be worth getting excited about, but no, not one decision that hasn't gone our way.

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blueblood66 added 17:49 - Dec 31 the FA are an absloute disgrace.
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jamie22 added 19:31 - Dec 31 I remember an Ipswich player getting a red card rescinded because of a similar situation. I think it was Sito, but hey Neil Warnock said the right thing, he knew it was a red card because of the ref! He has shown 8 red cards in 17 games! and about 70 yellows so let's move on, get pablo back and have Priskin a run of games ( I don't like the sound of that but maybe he realises this is his chance), I just hope we don't keep Stern John, he doesn't improve our forwards we need someone better than what we have! Good job Keano.... FA Cup final here we come! COYB

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carsey added 21:50 - Dec 31 Who is this bloke? Roosta? Where have you appearred from? It was a poor decision by the referee in the first place and Town were completely correct and justified in making the appeal. The FA as everyone knows are a bunch of idiots who blindly support their second rate officials whatever anyone else who knows the game says. When Warnock supports the Towns position it shows we have a point. Roosta go back where you came from which I guess is somewhere along the A140.

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