Melchiot handed Hasselbaink ban

THE red card shown to Chelsea forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in Wednesday's Worthington Cup defeat by Tottenham has now been attributed to Mario Melchiot along with the three-match ban.

TV replays showed it was compatriot Melchiot who shoved Tottenham star Teddy Sheringham in the face, although referee Mark Halsey issued Hasselbaink his marching orders in a clear case of mistaken identity.

Chelsea appealed over the incident and after reviewing the evidence the Football Association have rescinded the ban, which begins on February 6, and handed it onto team-mate Melchiot.

The former Ajax ace accepted he was to blame for the fracas but insisted the incident did not warrant a straight red card.

"Teddy Sheringham said after the match that the push on him was not a sending off offence and we agree with that 100 per cent," Melchiot said prior to the FA ruling.

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