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Bans upheld on FA cup final pair
Flashpoint: Mullins shoves Garcia in Wednesday's match. LONDON, England -- It will be FA Cup final heartache for West Ham's Hayden Mullins and Luis Garcia of Liverpool after having appeals against three-match bans rejected by the English FA on Friday. The pair received red cards for a scuffle nine minutes from the end of Wednesday's Premier League dress rehearsal for the final on May 13 between the two sides. Realizing that the automatic three-match ban for violent conduct would mean both men would miss the final, their clubs launched an appeal. Spain's Garcia had only been on the field for nine minutes when he tangled with fellow midfielder Mullins. The Hammers player pushed Garcia to the floor and referee Howard Webb showed both straight red cards. Liverpool won the match 2-1 with Djibril Cisse scoring twice. West Ham manager Alan Pardew reacted to the news of Mullins' absence from Cardiff and admitted the player would be distressed to miss the game. Pardew told Sky Sports News: "I feel very aggrieved and very upset because he has had a fantastic season. He has been one of our best players. "He was my first signing here, I'm very proud of him of what he has done and achieved. "I for one will be very sad if he misses the final and I know Hayden will be feeling a lot worse than I will be."
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