Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere has been handed a four-match ban after having his appeal against the red card he received at Liverpool rejected.

The Frenchman was sent off by referee Lee Mason at Anfield on Saturday after aiming a slap at Javier Mascherano, who had earlier appeared to make contact with his face in an off-the-ball incident.

Boro appealed on the grounds that the offence did not amount to violent conduct.

However, a regulatory commission have rejected the claim as "frivolous" and increased the mandatory three-match ban for the offence to four.

A Football Association statement said: "At a regulatory commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Middlesbrough's Jeremie Aliadiere was rejected.

"The commission decided that the claim was frivolous and increased Aliadiere's suspension from three matches to four matches as a result with immediate effect.

"Aliadiere was shown a red card for violent conduct following an incident during the second half of Middlesbrough's match against Liverpool on 23 February."