A word of advice to the Boro hierarchy: When your own manager appears in numerous interviews after the game accepting the sending off and indeed saying the player "will learn from his mistake", the chances of a sympathetic ear from the FA are slim.
Whether "raising your hands" is in itself deserving of a sending off at all is a different argument altogether, the fact is that most of the time it will result in a red card. But it's amazing, actually staggering, that no action is to be taken against Mascherano.
And will people stop comparing this to the Eduardo break. One was a deliberate attempt to commit a (very, very minor) act of violence (ie a slap to the face), the other was a reckless, but non-malicious, tackle that went badly wrong.

Chris, Worthing, England

Atrocious decision from the FA from a Non Boro fan. Who are these nodding idiots, how do they make these decisions? Are they bringing football into disrepute with their lack of knowledge, sense and fairness? They seem unable to make a judgement. A shambles and one the FA need to sort out before the fans, players and managers lose confidence in the refs and football in this country.

James W-Smith, Cambridge, UK

Why do the FA bother to ask a referree to look at incident again, most of them have such big egos they wouldn't admit that they made a mistake and change their decision. Incidents such as the one in the Liverpool match should go to a panel of ex-professionals (with no allegience to the clubs involved) to look at and decide whether action should be taken. I don't think Aliadiere should have been sent off but if he was sent off then so should Maschareno as they both did the same thing, with Maschareno being the worst because instigated it.

Lorraine, Oxford,

I have met officials from the F.A. They are not like the rest of us. They know all the laws, but have no sense of justice.

Dave b, york, uk

To start, I am a Boro fan. Unfortunately, I did not see the offence on Saturday, so I cant comment on that. But, I am surprised that Middlesbrough even bothered to take this to the F.A in the first place. If you raise your hands, your off. Pure and simple. So for Boro to loose the appeal, not surprised at all. What does surprise me, is the increase in the ban! Is that even in the F.A rule book? I know they can increase a yellow to a red card but to increase a players ban because they believe the appeal to be frivolous seems to be very strange! Is this standard practice at the F.A? Have other teams fell foul of this rule? Arsenal should appeal Martin Taylor's sending off, it may get doubled! Now that's violent conduct.

Mark, Rotorua, New Zealand

I agree with Alex entirely. Nothing happened that should have warranted a card of any colour. The referee should have called both of them over, told them to stop being childish, and warned them that he wouldn't tolerate any repetition of such behaviour.

If this was "violence" what on earth will this ref do when somebody actually punches another player? Have him shot?

The FA have made themselves look ridiculous once again. Maybe someone should reprimand THEM for childish behaviour. The referee should be suspended for four games, not Aliadiere.

Barrie Collins, Long Sault, Ontario, Canada

(I'm not a Boro fan)..
English I know is a land of gentlemen, a land of thousand inventors. But when it turns to football (especially FA), they don't seem to have sense of logics at all. Martin Taylor has made Eduardo da Silva's leg broken. He gets a 3 match ban. Jeremie Aliadiere 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 the Frenchman's face in an off-the-ball incident. FA has increased the mandatory three-match ban for the offence to four. Aliadiere was just "aiming" a slap, and Mr. Taylor is "aiming" to get the ball (or eduardo's leg?). The results is that Eduardo is having his leg broken and have to wait 9 months to see if he is still able to kick the ball again, while Javier is very healthy at the moment, his legs are fine, and he probably smiling at Jeremie's cost. So think about that English (FA)..think..think..please think...

Denis Saputra, Jakarta, Indonesia

boro can have no complaints about the sending off. where they are 100% right, though, is in pointing out the inconsistency. mascherano should definitely have been sent off. indeed, he should have a longer ban as (excuse me for sounding like a three-year old) "he started it".

however, comments about the big four being favoured by the f.a. are out of order. arsenal and liverpool, sure. but manchester united never get any joy out of the f.a. as any number of ridiculous and unfair bans would testify. the main reason united would never get an extra game for a frivolous appeal is because now they don't even bother appealing when they have a cast iron case. they know they will get nowhere.

jem, london, uk

Oh come on! Liverpool fan here. How can you say ANYONE should have been sent off here? Both acted like schoolboys having a momentary playground spat. The referee should have been an adult and told them both to stop being naughty and got on with the game. The FAs decision to extend the ban is exactly why they're so ridiculed and worthless. meanwhile. players trying to break other player's legs are getting yellow cards.

Alex, California,

Cards on the table first - I am a Boro fan.

This decision demonstrates that the FA are still incapable of viewing some TV pictures and drawing a sensible balanced conclusion. I never expected the suspension to be wiped out - that rarely happens these days, even to the FA's favourite teams, - but to add an extra game was an extra twist of ineptitude that I hadn't expected when clearly all Boro wanted to do was question the 'violent conduct' label the offence had been given with a view to a ban more consistent to the offence e.g. one game.

I suggest the video evidence panel is itself suspended as it is clearly unfit for purpose in it's current form. If we must have a suspension system (which is a longer argument I think) then how about a one match ban for a red card unless the referee deems the offence dangerous to an opponent (or in Arsenal's case a team mate) in which case a 2 or 3 match ban would be appropriate.

Tim, Newcastle,

This decision by the FA is so unjust,it is unbelievable,i saw the whole incident and frankly i believe Mascherano should have been sent off for incitement,however he has achieved his objective with the aid of the FA.

Tunde Taiwo, Lagos, NIGERIA

Fantastic! That's four games where I won't have to watch Aliadiere in the Boro team. Hopefully they will appeal again.

S Trowbridge, London,

The panel must have been watching the wrong video. My whole hearted support must go to Boro. They have got to stand up to this very unfair decision.

Mike Clarke, Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria

I'm not a boro fans by any means, but could you imagine someone playing for 'the big 4' getting an extra game for a frivolous appeal?

Mark, Newcastle,