• Premier League

City decide not to appeal against Nasri red

ESPN staff
December 31, 2012
Samir Nasri will now face a three-match suspension © Getty Images
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Manchester City have decided not to appeal against the red card Samir Nasri picked up during the 4-3 victory over Norwich City at the weekend.

Nasri was dismissed just prior to half-time in the game at Carrow Road, after appearing to push his head towards Sebastien Bassong during an altercation about a dangerous tackle.

City manager Roberto Mancini defended his player after the game, insisting that there had been no violent conduct, but revealed on Monday morning that the club were still evaluating whether to appeal - wary that the Football Association might deem any protest 'frivolous' and ban the Frenchman for a further game.

"We don't know what can happen if we appeal," Mancini noted. "Usually they reject an appeal. This could be a problem because after this game we lose three players, Yaya (Toure), Kolo (Toure) and (Abdul) Razak and we don't want to lose another."

Nasri will now miss the Premier League game against Stoke City on January 1 - a match he would have been available for if the club had appealed, while they waited for it to be heard - along with the FA Cup third round match against Watford and a crunch league meeting with Arsenal.

Norwich's Anthony Pilkington had earlier claimed that Nasri would have never considered confronting Bassong in normal circumstances, insisted that the former Gunners midfielder had been guilty of an over-reaction.

"Nasri had a few of his lads behind him," Pilkington told The Sun. "I am sure he wouldn't have done it if he wasn't on the football pitch."

He added: "I think Nasri put his head into Seb and the linesman has seen it, not the referee.

"I didn't think it was a foul. Seb won the ball - maybe he has lifted his leg up as he came through - but the surface was wet out there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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