FA receive Magpies appeal
21 Oct 2008 - 14:49:02
The Football Association have confirmed that they have received a claim for wrongful dismissal from Newcastle United for defender Habib Beye.
The Senegal international's appeal will be heard on Thursday after he was shown a red card for in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City for tripping Robinho.
United's interim manager Joe Kinnear had said after the game that referee Rob Styles had agreed to take another look at the 12th-minute incident.
The former Wimbledon and Luton Town boss said: "I've been in to have a chat with him and he's prepared to have a look at it, and he'll let me know what his views are in about four or five days.
"Habib's such an honest kid. He said to me 'gaffer, I swear to God I got the ball first'. Thankfully, the TV playback clearly shows he did get the ball first.
"It was a hard one to call, but referees, like all of us, make mistakes and, please God, he'll put it right because we aren't in a position now, having just got Beye back, that I'd want to lose him."
Beye was dismayed by Styles' decision, particularly as he was playing in his first game for two months after recovering from an Achilles problem.
"For me that was the start of my season and I'm devastated by the decision," he told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"I wouldn't have made the tackle if I didn't think I could have got the ball, and that's why I'm so disappointed.
"It was my first game back for some time, and to be sent off so early is very disappointing."