Manchester City's French international defender Bacary Sagna on Thursday failed in his appeal against a £40,000 fine (46,480 euros, $50,178) for making an Instagram post that questioned a referee's impartiality.
Sagna, 32, posted a photo with the caption "10 against 12.. but still fighting and winning as a team" on the social network following City's 2-1 victory against Burnley on January 2.
It was seen as a criticism of referee Lee Mason after City had been reduced to 10 men for an hour after Fernandinho was sent off for a lunge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
Sagna, who was later involved in an altercation with Burnley midfielder George Boyd which Clarets boss Sean Dyche felt should have resulted in a red card, appeared to take issue with decisions made by Mason in the Instagram post after the match.
Although fined by the FA, Sagna escaped a suspension and was warned over his future conduct.