Marcos Alonso to miss Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final

Marcos Alonso will miss Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley on Sunday after being given a three-match ban for violent conduct.The Spanish defender was charged by the Football Association (FA) after a challenge on Shane Long in Saturday's 3-2 win against the Saints.

The FA took retrospective action after officials, including referee Mike Dean, failed to see the incident where Alonso appeared to stand on the back of Long's calf in the 43rd minute of the league match at St Mary's Stadium.

"It was a poor challenge - it should have been a red card in my view," said Southampton manager Mark Hughes after his relegation-threatened side's defeat.

"The disappointment was the officials didn't see it. They were all within a 10 to 15-metre radius - one of them should have seen it."

Alonso denied the charge though but this was rejected after an independent commission hearing.