Vidic to miss League Cup semi as ban upheld

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic will miss his side’s League Cup semi-final second leg tie against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Wednesday after failing to overturn a red card he received last weekend.

Referee Phil Dowd (2L) points off-field as Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic (2R) pleads after being shown a straight red card for a challenge on Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard. (AFP/ADRIAN DENNIS)

The central defender submitted a claim for wrongful dismissal after being sent off late on during Premier League champions United’s 3-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday for a rash challenge on Eden Hazard.

Vidic was given a straight red card, for which the standard punishment is a three-game ban.

An independent regulatory commission confirmed on Tuesday this would now take “immediate effect”, starting with Wednesday’s tie where United are looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

“Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic has had his claim for wrongful dismissal rejected by an independent regulatory commission,” said a statement issued by the Football Association on Tuesday.

“Therefore, the player’s three-match suspension commences with immediate effect. Vidic had received a red card for serious foul play in his side’s game against Chelsea on Sunday 19 January 2014.”

The 32-year-old Serbia international will also miss United’s league games at home to Cardiff City and away to Stoke City.

United tended not to worry too much the League Cup under former manager Alex Ferguson, even though they won it four times during the Scot’s reign at Old Trafford, as they went in search of more prestigious trophies.

But with Sunday’s defeat leaving David Moyes’s side 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, and having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Swansea City, United need success in the League Cup like never before.

Source AFP

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