Jermaine Beckford free to lead Leicester City attack
Jermaine Beckford has eased Leicester City's striker crisis after having his red card overturned by an independent panel.
The 28-year-old was facing a three-match ban after he was sent off against Brighton on Saturday and charged with violent conduct.
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Jermaine Beckford
Beckford was dismissed by referee Andy Woolmer following a clash with Brighton defender Lewis Dunk in the Championship match at the Amex Stadium.
But the former Leeds and Everton forward is now free to lead the City attack against Cardiff on Saturday, easing manager Nigel Pearson's problems up front.
Darius Vassell, Martyn Waghorn and Jeffrey Schlupp are all sidelined with injury, and loanee Nathan Delfouneso picked up a serious ankle knock in the Brighton match.
City appealed against Beckford's dismissal, and the three-man independent regulatory commission, which was appointed by the Football Association, met in London yesterday afternoon to consider the case. The club was convinced that Beckford did nothing wrong and the panel studied video footage and written evidence submitted by City.
They then decided to revoke referee Andy Woolmer's decision, which came after consultation with his assistant.
A statement by the FA read: "Leicester City's Jermaine Beckford has had his claim for wrongful dismissal upheld.
"As a result, the three-match suspension handed to him has been withdrawn with immediate effect.
"Beckford had originally received a red card for violent conduct during his side's game at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, February 4, 2012."
City said they were delighted with the outcome of the appeal, but would not be making any further comment.
Beckford was sent off for what was described as an aggressive act towards Dunk at the start of the second half of Saturday's 1-0 defeat.
City finished the game with eight men after another red card, for midfielder Neil Danns, and the late injury to Delfouneso. Brighton midfielder Matt Sparrow was also sent off for a challenge on City's Ben Marshall, and he will serve a three-match ban.
If Beckford's suspension had stood, it would have ruled him out of Saturday's visit of Cardiff, next week's midweek trip to Watford and the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Norwich.
City boss Nigel Pearson was restrained in his comments about the red-card decision, but even Brighton boss Gus Poyet said after the game the decision looked harsh.
After reviewing the video, Poyet felt there had been no aggression shown by Beckford, who also protested his innocence at his dismissal.
Danns, however, will miss Saturday's clash with Cardiff for the two yellow cards collected against the Seagulls.
This is the second time in a week that City have been involved in a disciplinary wrangle with the FA. Pearson was sent to the stand at half-time in the Championship draw with Middlesbrough.
He looked likely to face a charge of improper conduct but then the FA said no further action was "deemed appropriate" after reviewing referee Gavin Ward's report and the evidence.
A City reserve side defeated Chesterfield 3-0 in a friendly at the Belvoir Drive training ground yesterday, with Academy striker Tom Hopper grabbing a hat-trick.
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by foxyrod
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 11:15PM
“i believe rugby , cricket and even tennis ( with hawkeye) have become more exciting with the addition of tv replays . i wouldnt mind waiting a few seconds so the 4th official could make the correct decision, as long long as it was for major decisions like over the line or not and hand ball or not and yellow or red card or not . come on fifa lets finally move into the 21st century and give the poor refs a chance to see which of the umpteen phases of the offside rule a player is in before they decide to allow / disallow a goal. we couldnt use tv technology when our sport began cus it wasnt available , nor could the other sports . but now football is being left behind, its as if fifa want cheats to prosper”
by acullingham
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:47PM
“The interesting line is this article for me is Hopper grabbing a hat trick against Chesterfield.
The last time the Academy produced a natural goal scorer for the first team was Lineker. Let's hope this young player is the real deal.”
by kapero
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:33PM
“Patrick - Why don't you read all of what i say before jumping in with your size 4,939 shoes. I said there should be a line drawn under what and how technology can be used. Therefore, six stoppages per half would be extreme. Besides, football is not so fast a game as you think. If you want to reference rugby, most injuries (and that is when a player is actually injured) are treated as the game continues. Rarely so in football. Most contentious decisions are followed by a stoppage in play so if a manager wants to challenge something it will hardly slow things down.
And sorry if the suggestion so offends you, i lifted it from Arsene Wenger.”
by nickjh1965
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:09PM
“Patrick4939
Obviously not harsh enough then as it doesn't seem to deter them!
If examples were made with stricter fines / heftier charges brought against them, then players may start to think twice.
1 or 2 weeks wages to most of the players these days is nothing. Fine them 1 or 2 months' wages and that would hurt.!!!”
by ghostof66
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:57PM
“Zambia 1, Ghana 0. So JP's out and we won't have that lcfc v lcfc Final. So it's Good Luck to Sol who plays later tonight v Mali...”
by Patrick4939
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:52PM
“kapero
an unbelievable suggestion. Up to 6 stoppages to watch TV per half - and be sure the clubs' management would use the full quota.
What sets our game above Rugby, cricket and US Football is that there are few periods where the game is not going on at full speed, the other games have numerous natural breaks so the references to the TV refs are hardly noticed.”
by Patrick4939
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:46PM
“nickjh1965
Players are suspended on video evidence unless the ref some the incident and gave some sort of punishment like a free kick even if this turns out to be too mild.
If the incident is not seen or punished it there is an FA charge.”
by bapcav
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:13PM
“You should see what "Pepe" is getting away with for Real Madrid.
multiple fouls, violence, stamping on Messi´s hand, handling on the line, screaming at the refs and pointing to his eyes, thumping three opponents in one match, diving holding his head when nothing had happened.
They DO have a "citing officer" in Spain but, apparently, he is blind, as NOTHING has been done.”
by nickjh1965
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:03PM
“I agree with Yorkfox re TV official
It's time to bring in a video official if the ground officials are not 100% sure of the 'so called' offence. I don't mean all decisions but just the ones that could be game changing (it works in Rugby, so why not football).
Too many times clubs, players and managers (not to mention the loyal fans) suffer for idiotic, stupid, pointless and wrong decisions made by power crazy idiots who are easily influenced by the crowd and nasty, cheating players trying to get another player sent off.
A video official would be able to verify or dispute a decision.
I've never understood why a dirty player is not booked after the game if not picked by the officials during the game. Whether he dives and gets a penalty, or gets away with a dig or an elbow or feigns injury to get someone sent off. If it's picked up on video after the game, then that dirty g*t should be penalised.
I bet that would reduce the amount of dirty play we see all the time!!
Anyway, rant over and welcome back Jermaine Beckford
Come on you Blues !”
by bapcav
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 4:56PM
“The problem is that this is not backdated to the time of the "offence," so city were penalised and lost the match.
The referee also gets away scotfree. Such errors should be punished with a three-match suspension.”