Here you have the correct syntax :
.sf-menu > li > a:hover,
.sf-menu > li.current > a,
.sf-menu > li.sfHover > a {
background: #d00000 url(../../images/bg-top-a-active.png) no-repeat center bottom;
height: 35px;
line-height: 35px;
border-radius: 5px;
-moz-border-radius: 5px;
-webkit-border-radius: 5px;
-o-border-radius: 5px;
text-decoration: none;
}
And here you forgot the >
.sf-menu li li a:hover,
.sf-menu li li.current a {
color: #d00000;
text-decoration: none;
}
So any a inside a li.current (at any level inside) gets the style.
Correct way
.sf-menu li li a:hover,
.sf-menu li li.current > a {
color: #d00000;
text-decoration: none;
}