An English FA independent commission will decide today whether the referee made an obvious error in sending off Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany for a tackle on Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere on Sunday.
Manchester City have appealed against the referee’s decision and will use TV evidence, with the offending tackle being shown from at least four angles.
If the FA receives City’s evidence by the deadline of 1pm today, the case should be resolved the same evening.
Mike Dean judged that the challenge was two-footed so he issued a straight red card. City’s appeal will be on the basis that Kompany’s tackle was with one foot, as some replays show that his right boot was tucked behind his left calf.
The defender later posted a picture on Twitter as apparent evidence of this, with the accompanying text: “No grudges against the referee, I understand the difficulty of the job. About the tackle: If the ball is overrun by the opponent and a 50/50 challenge occurs, collision is inevitable.
“Ultimately I’m a defender: Appeal may work or not. I will never pull out of a challenge, as much as I will never intend to injury a player.”
League match
If unsuccessful Kompany will miss Saturday’s visit of Fulham plus the FA Cup fourth-round tie with Stoke City or Crystal Palace and a league match against QPR.
City’s first-team coach, David Platt, believes there are valid grounds to appeal but refused to lay any blame at the door of the referee. “We feel as though there is a case,” he said. “It is a difficult one for the referee because when you look at it live it certainly looks like what the referee would term as serious foul play.
“I think when you slow the incident down you see that Vinny takes the ball and it is only one-footed. I think opinion will be divided. He certainly goes to ground but he actually takes the ball. I wouldn’t blame the referee for his decision but there is doubt as to whether it is a red card.”
City’s manager, Roberto Mancini defended his captain after the game and said an appeal was imminent.
Took the ball
“We will appeal because it is impossible that we can lose one player for three games for nothing. It is not a red card, it is nothing,” the Italian said. “He went into the tackle anticipating the opponent and took the ball before. I don’t know how it is possible to get a red card like this. It was no foul, no red card.”
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Evra confident Lessons have been learned
Patrice Evra insists Manchester United have learned their lesson and plan to ignore what Manchester City get up to this season.
“This year we are focusing more on ourselves whereas last year we were more worried about City,” Evra said.
“There was too much focus on what they were going to do in their next game. But this year it’s about us. By having a good season, we will become the champions. We finished last season with the same number of points as the champions and it is obvious we are stronger than last year given the addition of players like Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa.”
With 55 points from their first 22 games, United have created a Premier League record.
