Tuesday 19 December 2017 18:45, UK
West Ham forward Manuel Lanzini has failed with his appeal against a two-game ban for 'successful deception of a match official'.
The Argentine was hit with the simulation charge after an incident during Saturday's emphatic 3-0 win at Stoke.
West Ham were awarded an 18th-minute penalty by referee Graham Scott after Lanzini went down under pressure from Eric Pieters - Mark Noble successfully converting it to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes was unhappy with the decision and said after the match: "We felt that the guy has dived and the referee has bought it unfortunately."
Lanzini was subsequently charged with the "successful deception of a match official" on Monday but chose to contest the decision.
However, an independent regulatory commission upheld the ruling at a hearing on Tuesday and the ban comes into immediate effect.
Lanzini will therefore miss Tuesday night's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and the Premier League clash at home to Newcastle on Saturday.
Lanzini is the second Premier League player to be banned for simulation, after Everton striker Oumar Niasse was suspended last month.
The commission's decision will come as a blow to West Ham manager David Moyes, who had said on Monday that he was shocked to hear Lanzini had been charged.
"I'm a bit surprised," said Moyes.
"The referee was 10 yards from the ball, nothing was blocking his vision, the defender made a challenge for the ball and didn't get it. So, I think they're going against the referee.
"The Goals on Sunday panel all said it was a definite penalty.
"I think it's strange that three people on Sunday thought it was a penalty and three people today think it probably wasn't."
Newly introduced this season, a simulation charge is issued when it is ruled there is clear evidence a player has dived to win a penalty or get an opponent sent off, via a straight red card or second yellow.
Footage of the incident is viewed independently by one ex-manager, one former player and an ex-match official, and they must unanimously agree for a charge to follow.
If the player contests the charge a separate panel hears the case.
