Cahill is sent off by referee Stuart Attwell at the Emirates Stadium
Bolton defender Gary Cahill's appeal against his dismissal in Saturday's loss at Arsenal has been rejected by the Football Association.
The centre-back was sent off during Saturday's 4-1 defeat following a challenge on striker Marouane Chamakh.
In confirming the appeal's failure, the FA added: "As a result, Cahill's three-match suspension will remain and will be served with immediate effect."
The ban will start with Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa.
Arsenal scored two goals after Cahill's sending-off, and Bolton manager Owen Coyle said later: "My initial reaction to the foul was a free-kick or a yellow card, but it didn't seem to me a red."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger stated it was not a red card but "more a dark orange or a light red".
Cahill and Coyle can at least console themselves with the fact that the commission did not view the appeal as frivolous, a finding which would have seen the ban extended to four games.
The dismissal was the second of 24-year-old Cahill's career.
The defender made his international debut when he replaced Michael Dawson in the second half of England's 4-0 victory against Bulgaria in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier on 3 September.
Cahill, who joined Bolton from Aston Villa for £5m in January 2008, missed part of last season because of a blood clot on his arm.
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