Yeovil Town midfielder Otis Khan has urged the Football Association to reconsider the suspension that is set to rule him out of Friday's FA Cup tie against his boyhood club Manchester United.
Khan, 22, was dismissed in the final minutes of Yeovil's 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield on Saturday after appearing to push referee Kevin Johnson.
The three-match ban means the former United trainee, who was born in Ashton, will miss the fourth-round tie at Huish Park.
However, Khan said he had fallen into Johnson and pleaded with the FA to take another look at the incident.
@BBCSport @YTFC @FA @SkySportsNews @talkSPORT @talkSPORTDrive @bbcbristolsport @alanbrazil pic.twitter.com/M54XqfnfwE
— Otis Khan (@OtisKhan63) January 21, 2018
In a statement posted on social media, he said: "There was absolutely no intention to make contact with Kevin Johnson.
"Mr Johnson, I am deeply sorry for falling into you, in all my time playing football I have always had the utmost respect for referees and officials.
"I ran towards the referee and upon doing so I tripped and fell towards him, making contact.
"I am absolutely heartbroken at this time because my dreams of playing against my boyhood team are in doubt. It's the worst time of my life at this moment.
"I hope this incident can be analysed again so you can clearly see it wasn't intentional and some form of leniency can be given."
United travel to Yeovil for the second time in four years, having won 2-0 there in the third round in 2015.
Alexis Sanchez could yet make his debut against the League Two side, with his move from Arsenal set to be announced in the next 24 hours.