Arsenal centre back Sol Campbell has lost his appeal against a four-match ban for being sent off against Manchester United last week.
The English FA said today that Campbell's ban would start on April 30th and he will therefore miss the FA Cup final against Southampton and Arsenal's final three league games.
Saturday's game at Bolton Wanderers will be his final match of the league season, robbing the London side of their most accomplished defender in the run-in towards what could be a second successive league and Cup double.
The England player was sent off for elbowing United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer late in the 2-2 draw with United, a decision which enraged Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal are three points behind United with a game in hand. Campbell, sent off twice this season, has started 32 of Arsenal's 34 premier league games.
Martin Keown's injury problems have meant Campbell has carried the defence for much of the season and his likely replacement, Pascal Cygan, has often looked out of his depth.
Arsenal have conceded 36 goals to United's 32 but have a one-goal superior goal difference after scoring 71 goals to United's 66.
"The team will support Sol," Wenger told the Evening Standard. "Every week there are examples of people who have done 10 times more than he did and they are not punished".