Herd wins red card appeal

Aston Villa’s Chris Herd has successfully appealed a three-match suspension for his dismissal in Saturday’s derby loss to West Brom.

Herd was issued a straight red card in the first half of the match for allegedly stamping on West Brom’s Jonas Olsson, although replays suggested the decision was harsh and Olsson himself made no initial complaints.

The 22-year-old Australian was set to serve a three-match ban as a result, but after his club appealed for wrongful dismissal to the FA, their claims have been upheld and the suspension overturned.

“I’m very happy with the decision and I feel vindicated because I was convinced all along I had done nothing wrong,” Herd told the Villa’s official website.

“My foot was being held by a West Brom player and I was just trying to free it from his grasp. I’m grateful and glad that the appeal committee reached the right decision.”

While the news will be well received by Villa fans, it is likely to do little to appease manager Alex McLeish, who saw his side beaten 2-1 by their local rivals after playing most of the match with ten men.

Darren Bent had given the home side the lead from the penalty spot, but West Brom began to look the more threatening after Herd’s dismissal, even though captain Chris Brunt missed the penalty resulting from incident.

Olsson nodded in the equaliser from a Brunt corner, before Paul Scharner fired home the winner in the second half, giving the Baggies their first league win at Villa Park since 1979.

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Villa to appeal Herd red card

Aston Villa will appeal the controversial red card shown to Chris Herd in their 2-1 defeat to West Brom on Saturday.

Australian-born right-back Herd was sent off by referee Phil Dowd after 36 minutes for deliberately treading on Baggies defender Jonas Olsson.

But furious Villa manager Alex McLeish supported his player’s assertion that this was untrue after the match, and confirmed on Monday that the club would be appealing the three-match ban.

“Oh yes, absolutely, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” he told Sky Sports.

“Looking at the pictures again, Chris has done nothing wrong.”

“It’s a poor decision on the day by the official. These things are not deliberate, he’s made an honest mistake, it’s just a shame I think that he’s guessed the decision rather than saw anything.”

Herd will miss the trips to Sunderland and Tottenham either side of Norwich’s visit to Villa Park if the suspension is upheld, but McLeish is quietly confident.

“I spoke to Phil,” said McLeish. “He will look at it again. We will see what the outcome is of the re-runs.”

“The slow-motion one indicated that Chris was extricating his foot from Olsson’s grasp. I just could not see a stamp in that situation.”

“Phil never saw it. He never saw Olsson’s punch on Chris’s shoulder. It’s difficult for a referee to see everything but the linesman saw the alleged stamp.”

Meanwhile, Villa midfielder Barry Bannan was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after being involved in a crash on the M1 early on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Scottish international midfielder smashed into the central reservation of the M1 at about 5.30am.

He was arrested by police officers, along with a 20-year-old friend, in the nearby village of Bulwell, in Nottinghamshire.

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Lavezzi loses appeal

New video footage means Napoli forward Ezequel Lavezzi’s three-match suspension will stand.

The Argentine striker was hit with the ban after he was caught on camera spitting at Roma defender Aleandro Rosi in the Naples-based club’s 2-0 away win at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Lavezzi, who netted at Anfield in the Europa League and has five Serie A goals this season, launched an appeal against the ban, insisting Rosi had spat at him first.

But Lavezzi’s hopes of avoiding suspension were set back when new video footage was released.

“We ran into a strange and unexpected situation during the appeal,” Napoli lawyer Paolo Rodella told Sky Sport Italia.

‘There was new footage. We don’t know why the court rejected our appeal, so cannot say whether this new footage swayed their judgment.”

“If that was the case, the footage could not be considered, because it was not used in the original inquest.”

Lavezzi will now miss league matches against Catania, Brescia, and crucially, the match against table-toppers AC Milan on February 28.

The absence of the 25-year-old will place more pressure on the likes of Edinson Cavani, who has scored 20 goals in 25 Serie A appearances this season, and Slovakian Marek Hamsik.

Sat 19 February, 2011

Lavezzi loses appeal

New video footage means Napoli forward Ezequel Lavezzi’s three-match suspension will stand.

The Argentine striker was hit with the ban after he was caught on camera spitting at Roma defender Aleandro Rosi in the Naples-based club’s 2-0 away win at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Lavezzi, who netted at Anfield in the Europa League and has five Serie A goals this season, launched an appeal against the ban, insisting Rosi had spat at him first.

But Lavezzi’s hopes of avoiding suspension were set back when new video footage was released.

“We ran into a strange and unexpected situation during the appeal,” Napoli lawyer Paolo Rodella told Sky Sport Italia.

‘There was new footage. We don’t know why the court rejected our appeal, so cannot say whether this new footage swayed their judgment.”

“If that was the case, the footage could not be considered, because it was not used in the original inquest.”

Lavezzi will now miss league matches against Catania, Brescia, and crucially, the match against table-toppers AC Milan on February 28.

The absence of the 25-year-old will place more pressure on the likes of Edinson Cavani, who has scored 20 goals in 25 Serie A appearances this season, and Slovakian Marek Hamsik.

Sat 19 February, 2011

Celtic to appeal Lennon ban

Celtic have confirmed they will appeal a six-match touchline ban handed to manager Neil Lennon for misconduct.

Lennon was handed the punishment after his appeal against an original two-week ban for his behaviour during Celtic’s defeat against Hearts in November was thrown out, and he was subsequently given a further four-week suspension for ‘excessive misconduct’.

However, Celtic have said they are “very surprised and extremely disappointed” by the Scottish Football Association’s (SFA) decision and confirmed they would fight the ban.

“Celtic and Neil Lennon confirmed today that they will be appealing today’s decision by the SFA disciplinary committee to impose a six-match touchline ban. The matter is in the hands of the club’s lawyers,” a statement from Celtic read.

“We are very surprised and extremely disappointed at today’s decision – we believe the punishment imposed was excessive in the circumstances and to our knowledge unprecedented for a first offence.”

“We have maintained for some time that a range of SFA processes and structures needed to be reviewed and updated. This view was supported recently by Henry McLeish in his review of the SFA.”

“Today’s events only underline and reinforce our opinion. Without question Celtic will be supporting its manager Neil Lennon in his appeal.”

“As well as challenging the severity of the punishment imposed, our appeal will also focus on issues of procedural fairness and the manner in which such hearings are conducted.”

If Celtic are unsuccessful in overturning the suspension, Lennon will be banned from the dug-out for a host of matches, including the Scottish Cup tie against Old Firm rivals Rangers in early February.

Wed 12 January, 2011

Celtic to appeal Lennon ban

Celtic have confirmed they will appeal a six-match touchline ban handed to manager Neil Lennon for misconduct.

Lennon was handed the punishment after his appeal against an original two-week ban for his behaviour during Celtic’s defeat against Hearts in November was thrown out, and he was subsequently given a further four-week suspension for ‘excessive misconduct’.

However, Celtic have said they are “very surprised and extremely disappointed” by the Scottish Football Association’s (SFA) decision and confirmed they would fight the ban.

“Celtic and Neil Lennon confirmed today that they will be appealing today’s decision by the SFA disciplinary committee to impose a six-match touchline ban. The matter is in the hands of the club’s lawyers,” a statement from Celtic read.

“We are very surprised and extremely disappointed at today’s decision – we believe the punishment imposed was excessive in the circumstances and to our knowledge unprecedented for a first offence.”

“We have maintained for some time that a range of SFA processes and structures needed to be reviewed and updated. This view was supported recently by Henry McLeish in his review of the SFA.”

“Today’s events only underline and reinforce our opinion. Without question Celtic will be supporting its manager Neil Lennon in his appeal.”

“As well as challenging the severity of the punishment imposed, our appeal will also focus on issues of procedural fairness and the manner in which such hearings are conducted.”

If Celtic are unsuccessful in overturning the suspension, Lennon will be banned from the dug-out for a host of matches, including the Scottish Cup tie against Old Firm rivals Rangers in early February.

Wed 12 January, 2011

City appeal Zabaleta red

Manchester City will appeal Pablo Zabaleta’s sending off in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Argentina fullback Zabaleta and his Arsenal counterpart Bacary Sagna were shown straight red cards by referee Mike Jones late in the English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

Reacting to a challenge from Zabaleta, Sagna squared up to his opponent and the pair touched foreheads before Zabaleta pushed the Frenchman away.

City consider Sagna to be the aggressor in the confrontation.

The Football Association confirmed on Thursday that an appeal for wrongful dismissal has been submitted by City, with an FA regulatory commission to hear the claims on Friday.

It is not yet known if Arsenal intend to appeal Sagna’s dismissal.

Thu 6 January, 2011

City appeal Zabaleta red

Manchester City will appeal Pablo Zabaleta’s sending off in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Argentina fullback Zabaleta and his Arsenal counterpart Bacary Sagna were shown straight red cards by referee Mike Jones late in the English Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

Reacting to a challenge from Zabaleta, Sagna squared up to his opponent and the pair touched foreheads before Zabaleta pushed the Frenchman away.

City consider Sagna to be the aggressor in the confrontation.

The Football Association confirmed on Thursday that an appeal for wrongful dismissal has been submitted by City, with an FA regulatory commission to hear the claims on Friday.

It is not yet known if Arsenal intend to appeal Sagna’s dismissal.

Thu 6 January, 2011