Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has seen his appeal against a four-game ban dismissed by UEFA this evening.
The 28-year-old was shown a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Slavia Prague goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar during the Europa League last-16 second-leg at Ibrox back in March.
Roofe was subsequently handed a ban for four matches but he and his manager Steven Gerrard had been hoping to have the punishment lowered, if not dismissed completely.
However, the decision makers within European football's governing body see no problem with the action taken by the referee at the time, and Roofe will now be forced to sit out Rangers' two Champions League qualifying rounds at the start of next season.
A statement from UEFA read: "The appeal lodged by Rangers FC has been dismissed. Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s (CEDB) decision of 13 April 2021 is confirmed.
"The CEDB had decided to suspend Rangers FC player, Mr. Kemar Roofe, for four (4) UEFA club competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible, for dangerously assaulting another player."
The news will come as a blow to Gerrard and his squad's hopes of making the Champions League group phase, with Roofe hitting top form in recent weeks.
The former Leeds United and Anderlecht striker has notched up 16 goals in all competitions throughout his first full season in Scottish football, including an impressive double against Celtic earlier this month.
