QPR's Appeal of Shaun Derry Red Card Rejected

In one of the stranger decisions in recent memory, Queens Park Rangers lost their appeal against the red card issued to defender Shaun Derry last Sunday.

Referee Lee Mason awarded a penalty kick and dismissed Derry for "denial of a goalscoring opportunity" after he appeared to lay the lightest of hands on Manchester United's Ashley Young early in the first half.

The touch sent Young flailing dramatically to the pitch and Mason reaching for his back pocket.

Replays showed the entire incident should have been nullified by the fact that Young was clearly offside when the entry pass was played.

But the assistant referee's flag stayed down, the whistle was blown and QPR played the remaining 75 minutes a man down.

The club appealed Derry's suspension to the FA. Today that body issued their ruling.

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Queens Park Rangers midfielder Shaun Derry will serve a one match suspension with immediate effect after his claim of wrongful dismissal was rejected by a Regulatory Commission today [Tuesday 10 April].

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The rejection means Derry will miss his team's home fixture against Swansea on Wednesday.

QPR are mired in the relegation battle with just six games remaining. They currently occupy 17th position thanks to a narrow advantage in goal differential over Blackburn and Wigan.