Newcastle win appeal over Fabricio Coloccini’s red card

Newcastle win appeal over Fabricio Coloccini’s red card against Sunderland

• Defender cleared but club charged with failing to control players
• Newcastle lost 3-0 at the Stadium of Light on Sunday



Fabricio Coloccini has won his case for wrongful dismissal in the Tyne-Wear derby, although the FA has charged Newcastle with failing to control their players.

Tempers frayed at Sunderland after the Newcastle captain was given a straight red card in first-half injury time after bundling over Steven Fletcher as the striker raced towards goal. A penalty was awarded for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity which Adam Johnson scored to put Sunderland ahead.

Newcastle lodged an appeal after the 3-0 defeat and Coloccini will now not have to serve a one-match ban. The club have, though, been charged with failing to control their players after they furiously harangued the referee, Robert Madley.

Steve McClaren said after the game: “The penalty against us was wrong. I have seen lots of challenges like that and they’re never given.”

An FA statement read: “Fabricio Coloccini will not serve a one-match suspension after his wrongful dismissal claim was successful. An Independent Regulatory Commission found that the match referee had made an obvious error in dismissing the Newcastle United defender for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity during the game against Sunderland on Sunday 25 October 2015.

“Newcastle United have been charged for failing to control their players in relation to their reaction to the referee’s decision.”

The club have until 6pm on Friday to respond to the charge. Coloccini will now be available for Saturday’s home game against Stoke. It is a boost for McClaren’s side, but the bitter taste of the game-changing sending-off will remain.

Newcastle had been on top at the Stadium of Light until the decision which allowed Johnson to slot home the penalty. Billy Jones tapped home a second with 25 minutes remaining and Steven Fletcher added a third as Sunderland recorded a sixth successive derby win.

Guardian