The Football Association have handed Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor a four-match ban after the striker was sent off in Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round replay defeat at Stoke City, his second red card of the campaign.
City had considered launching an appeal against referee Steve Bennett's decision but were put off when they were told by the FA that the ban could be extended to five games if it was deemed to be "frivolous".
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand had his suspension increased from three to four matches earlier this term when he contested the decision to send him off during the 4-0 victory against Hull City.
Adebayor was sent off during the 3-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium after catching Ryan Shawcross in the throat with his arm.
The striker received a three-match ban in September for stamping on Arsenal's Robin van Persie and had only recently returned to action after being on compassionate leave following the attack on the Togo team bus just before the start of last month's Africa Cup of Nations.
He misses Saturday's clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as well as the games in March against Sunderland, Fulham and Wigan Athletic.
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