Sunderland announced on Sunday that they will launch an appeal against the red card shown to defender Wes Brown during their 2-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
Brown was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute of Saturday’s game at Old Trafford after Radamel Falcao went down in the Sunderland box, but it appeared that Brown’s team-mate John O’Shea had committed the foul.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which manages Premier League officials, subsequently explained in a statement that referee Roger East felt that Brown had also fouled Falcao, but Sunderland were not satisfied by his explanation.
“SAFC has confirmed that it will appeal the red card given to Wes Brown in yesterday’s (Saturday’s) Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford,” the club said in a statement on their website.
“The club has until 1pm (1300 GMT) tomorrow (Monday) to lodge its appeal with the FA.”
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said he had been baffled by East’s interpretation of what had happened.
“The referee told the players there were two fouls committed,” he said.
“One by John O’Shea, one by Wes Brown, and he gave the Wes Brown one. Wes Brown didn’t touch anyone, so I don’t know what he saw.
Wayne Rooney put United ahead from the ensuing penalty and then added a late second to complete victory.