QPR lose appeal against Barton red card

London: Queens Park Rangers have lost their appeal against midfielder Joey Barton`s red card in Monday`s match against Norwich City, the FA said.

Barton was dismissed when he appeared to headbutt Norwich`s Bradley Johnson in an off-the-ball incident after 34 minutes of Rangers` 2-1 defeat. "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today dismissed a claim of wrongful dismissal from Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton following his red card for violent conduct in the QPR v Norwich City game on 2 January 2012," the FA said in a statement on their website. Barton, who claimed the officials had been "conned" into sending him off, will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect. Bureau Report