Courtois red card appeal failed

Chelsea have failed in their attempt to overturn Thibaut Courtois’s sending off against Swansea. The champions’ No.1 keeper was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliverfor a mistimed challenge on Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis.

Chelsea disputed that Gomis had been denied a “clear and obvious” goalscoring opportunity as the ball had not been heading towards goal and Gary Cahill was the covering defender.

However, Courtois will miss Saturday's crunch clash against Manchester City after the FA rejected their appeal.

The FA statement said: "Therefore, the player's one-match suspension, which is the standard penalty for this offence, remains with immediate effect.

"For a club to be successful with a claim of wrongful dismissal, it must prove to an Independent Regulatory Commission via written and/or video evidence that the match referee made an obvious error."