Source: Team_Talk
Toffees appeal Rodwell's red
Everton have made a formal appeal to the Football Association against Jack Rodwell's red card in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.[LNB] The midfielder was dismissed after 23 minutes against Liverpool, in a match the Toffees went on to lose 2-0.[LNB]Referee Martin Atkinson showed the 20-year-old a straight red after a challenge on Luis Suarez, but television replays appeared to show Rodwell won the ball and made minimal contact with the Uruguayan.[LNB]Suarez went down heavily following contact with Rodwell, but the striker's reaction was criticised for being excessive in some quarters.[LNB]Everton, having reviewed the incident, now feel they have a chance of getting the decision reversed and will submit written documentation to the FA.[LNB]Chief executive Robert Elstone told the club's official website: "Following a review of the video evidence we believe the decision to be wrong and we will be contacting the FA requesting that the red card is rescinded."[LNB]If the disciplinary panel uphold the decision, Rodwell will serve a three-match ban, missing matches in the Premier League and Carling Cup against Chelsea as well as the trip to Fulham.[LNB]Everton boss David Moyes had originally questioned Atkinson's decision in his post-match comments, suggesting that far from being a red card offence, it was not even a foul.[LNB]"There are a lot of questions that people ask about derbies, tackles and sendings-off but that wasn't down to a bad tackle," Moyes said.[LNB]"I would have been disappointed if it had been a free-kick and if he had given a yellow card you would have said 'what is that for?'."
