Our skipper is banned because one man got it wrong - Poyet hits out after FA reject Keane's red card appeal - Sport

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The Tottenham assistant manager is dismayed that the club's star striker will be forced to serve a three-game ban following his challenge on Fabrice Muamba in Sunday's 3-2 home defeat.

Spurs had appealed to the FA but the governing body chose to uphold referee Phil Dowd's decision, meaning the Irishman will miss key games against Manchester City (twice) and Portsmouth.

• More Tottenham news

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Disgusted: Poyet has hit out at the FA over Keane's dismissal

Poyet said: "I have to be careful what I say, but I don't know one person in England who thought it was a red card - apart from a few people in the Football Association who feel they have to support the referee.

"Robbie is not a malicious player and, of course, his absence is going to be hard to take. He is one of the top scorers in the Premier League."

Keane has protested his innocence and his club petitioned the FA on grounds that the foul warranted less severe punishment than a red card.

It is, however, rare for the FA to uphold an appeal when the referee has a clear view of the incident and does not later decide he was wrong.

Poyet's criticism of the FA could land him in further trouble. The former Leeds No2 was warned over his future conduct in October after being fined £1,500 for an outburst directed at referee Andy D'Urso.