According to West Ham United, The Football Association Regulatory Commission has overturned Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate’s red card that was issued during the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Kouyate was handed the straight red by referee Mark Clattenburg in the 67′ minute following a challenge on Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle.
The punishment would have seen to it that the 26-year-old midfielder would miss his next three matches. If the appeal by West Ham wasn’t overturned, Kouyate would have missed this weekend’s league game against Arsenal.
West Ham officials released a statement confirming that the Football Association had agreed with their claim for wrongful dismissal.
West Ham United can confirm that a Football Association Regulatory Commission has upheld the Club’s claim for wrongful dismissal in respect of the red card shown to Cheikhou Kouyate against Crystal Palace.
They continued to add that:
The Senegal midfielder is therefore eligible to play against Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
Crystal Palace’s boss Alan Pardew believed that red card was a bit harsh for the Senegalese midfielder. Pardew admitted to SkySports:
The red card I thought was harsh really. I just watched it back. I would have been disappointed to have that issued to one of my players. In the same fixture at the start of the season we had Gayley sent off and we thought that was harsh so it is funny how things even out.
However, Pardew took advantage of the mishap saying:
When you are 2-1 down at West Ham with the form they are in, you will take 2-2 all day. We really did play well in the second half. We forced the game more in the first 20 minutes. We pushed and pushed and had chances. I am delighted for the team because I thought they showed today their heart is still very much in it. We have got ourselves in a bit of trouble but this is a great result.
Although the Red Card may have stopped West Ham from grabbing three points, Crystal Palace enjoyed being a man up, which helped the side grab a point away at the Boleyn Ground. It is good to see football justice for Kouyate, as well as a comeback for a Crystal Palace who are still searching for that first league win of 2016.
