Aliadiere takes a swipe at FA

Jeremie Aliadiere last night hit out at the FA committee who extended his suspension when Middlesbrough appealed over his dismissal at Liverpool.

'When I heard I had got a four-game ban I was very upset and very disappointed because I didn't expect it,' he said. 'It was hard to take.

'I've not heard anyone say the four-game ban for me was right. I don't understand why they increased it.'

Aliadiere's appeal against his red card for raising his hands to midfielder Javier Mascherano was deemed frivolous by the committee and the striker fumed: 'I'm the only Premier League player who has had that done to them. It is confusing.

'Michael Essien against Derby used his elbows in the face but nothing happens. He doesn't get an extra ban but I did. Why? I have got no idea.

'I just don't understand it. Nobody has given me an answer.

'We can all sit back and say it is not right but not one person has told me I deserved four games out.'

Boro face Aliadiere's former club Arsenal at the Emirates today and defender Luke Young has revealed it needed a huge clear-the-air meeting to lift the gloom after their capitulation at home to Cardiff in the FA Cup last week.

Young said: 'It was all the staff and the players and we just opened the air up a bit and cleared a few things up. We had to do it.'