Andy Carroll will serve his three-match ban after an arbitration hearing found against West Ham.

The tribunal was held after the Hammers had threatened legal action following the striker's dismissal for his much-publicised clash with Swansea City’s Chico Flores in last weekend’s 2-0 victory at Upton Park.

Following the hearing which reportedly lasted for six hours, the tribunal found an independent commission was correct to reject the Hammers’ appeal against the dismissal.

Carroll will now miss tomorrow’s clash with Aston Villa and the games with Norwich City and Southampton.