Griffiths was sent off for an elbow on an opponent in a recent league match against Shandong Luneng. He was adamant that he wasn't guilty of any wrongdoing but the Chinese FA disagreed.

 "Joel is a fairly professional player, he was not intending to hurt Shandong's player," Beijing's Korean coach Lee Jang-soo told the Global Times.

"That is a big blow for us throughout the entire season," Beijing's chairman Luo Ning added.

Beijing will examine whether to appeal at an emergency club meeting is held.

Meanwhile, Griffiths' booking in Guoan's Asian Champions League clash this week has triggered a ban that rules him out of the club's looming clash with Newcastle Jets.

It removes the problem of a distinctly grey area - whether or not the player is/was allowed to play in the clash against Gary van Egmond's side.