Mark Halsey: ‘Very good chance’ Soucek red card will be rescinded
Former Premier League official Mark Halsey believes Tomas Soucek’s upcoming ban will be overturned after the West Ham midfielder received a baffling red card v Fulham.
Soucek saw red in the 97th minute of the 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage on Saturday to the bemusement of all in attendance and the watching world.
Referee Mike Dean delivered the punishment following a VAR review as he adjudged an elbow on Aleksander Mitrovic to amount to violent conduct, while West Ham announced on Sunday that they had submitted notice to the FA to appeal the ban handed to the Czech Republic international.
On his personal Twitter account, Halsey posted a photo of the laws pertaining to violent conduct and its definition the morning after the incident.
After a question by a West Ham fan, Halsey replied that there was a “very good chance” that the decision will get overturned and Soucek’s three-match suspension will be cancelled.
David Moyes will be hoping this proves to be true with a crucial FA Cup clash v Manchester United and league fixtures against Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, games that Soucek would miss should the ban be upheld.
Give us a break…
It truly was a baffling decision that has drawn criticism from all across football.
Surely there is no way that this suspension remains in place?
The fact that a former referee and colleague of Dean has come out to have his say on the incident and deems it to be much ado about nothing sums up just how poor the ruling was.
With it being so late in the game it did not end up costing the Irons but what if Dean made that decision early in the first half?
That could have deprived West Ham of a vital point in the quest for a European spot this season with every game vital as the race at the top end of the table hots up.
We’re not a club who spend hundreds of millions like Manchester City and Chelsea so we cannot afford referees to change the course of games by issuing random red cards.
Hopefully common sense prevails but as last night proved that is a trait seriously lacking in the Premier League right now.
In other West Ham news, our Super Fans give their passionate verdicts on the incident.