Mario Balotelli is set to serve his four-match ban for violent conduct after David Platt admitted today Manchester City felt they had no chance of winning an appeal.
The striker was charged by the Football Association last night after he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker's head during City's 3-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
Referee Howard Webb told the FA he would have sent Balotelli off if he had seen the clash.
City have until 6pm tomorrow to decide whether to appeal but assistant manager Platt fears any challenge would be "futile" given that Vincent Kompany had to serve his ban for a far less obvious incident against Manchester United.
"I don't think anybody thought we would win an appeal with Vincent, even though the majority of people didn't feel he deserved a red card or a four-match ban [for his challenge on Nani]," he said. "It shows the futility of an appeal sometimes. We are likely to be without a player for four games."
The ban will rule Balotelli out of tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Anfield, where the hosts are defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg. The Italian will also miss the Premier League trips to Everton and Aston Villa and the home match with Fulham.
