Colchester United have failed in their bid to get Clive Platt's red card overturned.
The U's record signing was sent off for violent conduct in the club's pre-season friendly defeat to Bolton Wanderers last week.
Colchester manager Geraint Williams consulted referees' chief Keith Hackett in an effort to get the red card reversed.
But the club have been unsuccessful in their mission and Platt will now miss three matches.
However, he is free to play in the U's season opener at Sheffield United on Saturday.
For a full preview on the game and all of the latest U's news, see tomorrow's Colchester Gazette.
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