FA rejects Vermaelen appeal

Arsenal's appeal against the red card shown to defender Thomas Vermaelen in Saturday's win against West Ham was rejected by a disciplinary commission on Tuesday, the Football Association announced.
Vermaelen will now serve an immediate one-game suspension, meaning he will miss Saturday's trip to Birmingham City.
The Belgian was sent off shortly before half-time at the Emirates Stadium for bringing down the Hammers' Guillermo Franco inside the penalty area.
Arsenal were leading 1-0 at the time and went on to win the Premier League match 2-0, with West Ham's Alessandro Diamanti missing the penalty which followed Vermaelen's red card.