At an Appeals Panel hearing today, an appeal by Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano was dismissed.

On 3 April, a Regulatory Commission fined Mascherano £15,000 and gave him an additional two match suspension for improper conduct in relation to his behaviour after being sent off during Liverpool's match against Manchester United on Sunday 23 March.

Mascherano appealed on the grounds that the punishment was excessive but this was dismissed by the Appeals Panel.

In summarising, the Chairman of the panel confirmed that the Appeal panel considered the behaviour wholly unacceptable and the two match suspension was fully justified and in no way excessive.

Mascherano will now serve the remaining one match of his suspension with immediate effect. He has already served the first match of the suspension imposed on 3 April in addition to a one match ban for the sending-off.