Villa GK Friedel wins red card appeal
Birmingham, England (Sports Network) - Brad Friedel will be available to face Manchester United after Aston Villa successfully appealed against the red card shown to the goalkeeper against Liverpool.
The veteran shot-stopper was sent off in the 64th minute at Anfield on Sunday in a game which the Midlands club lost 5-0.
Referee Martin Atkinson ruled that Friedel was guilty of a professional foul on Fernando Torres after the pair collided and the home side were awarded a penalty.
After the heavy defeat, Friedel questioned the decision to send him off after claiming there was little he could do to avoid the collision.
Villa immediately suggested it would appeal the dismissal and a Football Association disciplinary panel has now overturned the red card.
The American keeper is now set to continue his record-breaking run of consecutive Premier League games against United at Old Trafford when Villa resume action on April 5.
"I just stood my ground and, as the cameras show, I turned my shoulders to show that I didn't try to make contact," he said. "He is the one who ran in and made contact with me.
"Does he have an argument for a penalty sure, does he have an argument for a booking sure, but sending off is very harsh considering he had a defender alongside him?"
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv) 03/24 12:42:55 ET
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/t...spx?id=4221994
Birmingham, England (Sports Network) - Brad Friedel will be available to face Manchester United after Aston Villa successfully appealed against the red card shown to the goalkeeper against Liverpool.
The veteran shot-stopper was sent off in the 64th minute at Anfield on Sunday in a game which the Midlands club lost 5-0.
Referee Martin Atkinson ruled that Friedel was guilty of a professional foul on Fernando Torres after the pair collided and the home side were awarded a penalty.
After the heavy defeat, Friedel questioned the decision to send him off after claiming there was little he could do to avoid the collision.
Villa immediately suggested it would appeal the dismissal and a Football Association disciplinary panel has now overturned the red card.
The American keeper is now set to continue his record-breaking run of consecutive Premier League games against United at Old Trafford when Villa resume action on April 5.
"I just stood my ground and, as the cameras show, I turned my shoulders to show that I didn't try to make contact," he said. "He is the one who ran in and made contact with me.
"Does he have an argument for a penalty sure, does he have an argument for a booking sure, but sending off is very harsh considering he had a defender alongside him?"
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv) 03/24 12:42:55 ET
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/t...spx?id=4221994
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