Vidic's Claim For Wrongful Dismissal Rejected

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has had his appeal against his dismissal against Chelsea rejected by an Independent Regulatory Commission, the Football Association has announced.

Therefore, the centre-half's three-match suspension commences with immediate effect, starting with the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Vidic was shown a straight red card for scything down Eden Hazard close to the end of United's 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Serbian will also have to sit out the Premier League visit of Cardiff and the trip to Stoke as part of his suspension.

His absence is a blow to David Moyes' struggling side, whose season suffered

another setback in their comprehensive defeat by the Blues, which left them 14 points off league leaders Arsenal and six off the Champions League places.

The Serbian will be missed by a defence which has looked particularly vulnerable in recent matches, having conceded nine goals in five games.