Cup finalists appeal red cards

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea's Mikel Jon Obi have both lodged appeals for wrongful dismissal in the hope to have their red cards in the Carling Cup final rescinded.

However, Gunners skipper Kolo Toure - who was also sent off for his part in the mass brawl at the end of the match at the Millennium Stadium - has not and so must serve a three-match ban.

Under the English FA's fast-track disciplinary process, the appeals will be held tomorrow, meaning a decision will come ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Blackburn.

Ivory Coast defender Toure, however, will definitely miss that game, along with the Barclays Premiership visit of Reading on Saturday and then Aston Villa.

He will, though, be available for the Champions League second leg against PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday, which is a UEFA competition.

The melee at the Millennium Stadium was sparked following a confrontation between Mikel and Toure, with players and coaches from both sides becoming involved.

Adebayor protested his innocence, and while he may have a case for mistake identity given the actions of fullback Emmanuel Eboue in his clash with Chelsea's Wayne Bridge, the Togo striker could yet face further sanctions for the way in which he both confronted referee Howard Webb and his refusal to immediately leave the pitch.

At the very least, both clubs seem sure to find themselves in trouble for failing to control their players, with Eboue also in line for a potential charge if Webb either admits to missing that part of the incident altogether or acknowledges he got the wrong man.

The brawl, which saw as many players dismissed in one minute as in the 46 previous finals altogether, completely overshadowed a pulsating contest, which also featured Chelsea skipper John Terry being stretchered off after being kicked in the head by Abou Diaby.

Yet both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho were eager to play down the row as the dust settled on Chelsea's second triumph in the competition in three years, although the Arsenal boss admitted he feared Soho Square might get involved.