Wednesday Apr 30 2008 08:45
Cardiff City captain Darren Purse has been cleared to play in next month's FA Cup Final after seeing a red card picked up at the weekend overturned on appeal.
The Bluebirds defender was in danger of missing the Wembley showpiece against Portsmouth after being dismissed in the latter stages of Saturday's 3-3 draw with Burnley.
Purse's challenge left veteran striker Andrew Cole requiring stitches in a leg wound, but a Football Association of Wales disciplinary panel overturned the decision of referee Andy Hall.
Speaking after the match, Cardiff boss Dave Jones defended his skipper, saying: "I thought the sending off was harsh. I'm not biased. I speak as a former defender.
"It was not intentional. If we are coming down to things like that being a sending off then every mis-timed tackle or everything we do is going to end up like that."
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