Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

McCartney's red card rescinded

24 Mar 2009 - 15:05:42

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Sunderland have successfully appealed against the red card shown to George McCartney during Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City.

The Northern Ireland international was facing the prospect of sitting out a potential return to former club West Ham United through suspension.

The automatic one-match ban he received for the red card handed out by referee Steve Tanner at Eastlands coincided with the Black Cats' trip to Upton Park on April 4.

The full-back was dismissed for pulling Shaun Wright-Phillips back in the 15th minute as the City winger chased a long ball.

But after launching an appeal on Monday, McCartney has now been cleared to face his former club.

"There was some sort of contact but the goalkeeper had got the ball in his hands," said manager Ricky Sbragia after the game.

"The referee asked the linesman a question but there was no definitive answer. They ummed and ahhed a bit and came up with that. It was the pivotal moment."