Watford

Watford fail with appeal against Troy Deeney's four-match ban

By Daniel Lewis, Senior ReporterPublished: 19 December 2017 4:39 PM

Troy Deeney is to miss Watford's next four matches as the Football Association has upheld referee Michael Oliver's decision to send off the striker against Huddersfield.

Watford striker Troy Deeney will serve a four-match suspension after his appeal against the red card picked up against Huddersfield Town was rejected.

The 29-year-old was given his marching orders by referee Michael Oliver during the first half of the Hornets' 4-1 defeat on Saturday afternoon for a lunge on Collin Quaner.

Watford felt that the decision was harsh and had hoped to see the red card rescinded when reviewed by a three-man panel on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement released via Twitter, however, Watford announced that they were unsuccessful and will now be without their skipper for games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City, Swansea City and Manchester City over the festive period.

"#watfordfc has learned from The Football Association that its appeal lodged against Troy Deeney's red card on Saturday (Dec 16 v Huddersfield Town) has been unsuccessful," the statement read. "Troy will therefore serve a four-match ban covering the games Dec 23, Dec 26, Dec 30 & Jan 2."

Deeney was previously handed a three-match ban by the Football Association earlier in the campaign after retrospective action was taken for his facial gouge on Joe Allen.