Everton will be without star forward Oumar Niasse for their next two games after the Football Association dismissed his appeal against a suspension for simulation.
Oumar Niasse, the Senegalese international, was pivotal in Everton earning a penalty during their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, after going down following slight contact with Scott Dan on Saturday.
Despite initially benefiting from the penalty, Niasse was later charged retrospectively with ‘successful deception of a match official’, resulting in a two-match ban. He is notably the first player to be sanctioned under this new regulation introduced at the beginning of the Premier League season.
Everton contested the charge, but the appeal was dismissed at a hearing on Wednesday, much to the disappointment of interim manager David Unsworth.
“My view won’t change,” Unsworth stated. “Contact is contact. Anywhere on the pitch, it is a foul. This sets a dangerous precedent.”
The FA released a statement: “An allegation was made that Niasse committed simulation leading to a penalty being awarded in the 5th minute of the game against Crystal Palace on 18 November 2017.”
“He denied the charge; however, after an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday 22 November 2017, it was found to be proven.”
The 27-year-old striker will miss Everton’s Premier League clashes against Southampton and West Ham. However, he remains eligible for Thursday’s Europa League fixture against Atalanta.
