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Post by stokecityscott on Mar 17, 2008 18:58:27 GMT
NO GO FOR EUSTACE APPEAL
Mon 17 Mar 2008
WATFORD have confirmed that they will not be contesting the red card received by John Eustace at the weekend in their Championship game with Stoke City.
The former Stoke and current Watford captain was sent off in the 21st minute of the game for what was deemed to be serious foul play against City's Richard Cresswell.
It stunned the Vicarage Road crowd, including the visiting supporters who chanted Eustace's name, however having taken advice from the authorities and upon viewing all available video evidence it is deemed that it would be futile to appeal the sending off.
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Aidy Boothroyd, who has spoken to Eustace directly this morning to inform him of the decision, said: "I have spoken to the referee and I have also spoken to the referee's assessor about the incident.
"For our appeal to be successful we must prove the decision has been a clear error on the referee's part. Whilst we believe it to have been wrong, and both Tony Pulis and Andy Griffin believe it to have been wrong, it's nonetheless a judgement call by Rob Styles and we cannot prove it otherwise."
If the Hornets were to contest the decision and that appeal were found to be 'frivolous' then Eustace would run the risk of having his ban upped from three games to four, such as happened to Jeremie Aliadiere of Middlesbrough last month.
Speaking after the game Stoke manager Pulis said: "I've worked with John Eustace, and he is one of the best professionals I've ever worked with.
"He's a top-drawer professional and wouldn't go out to hurt anyone."
Stoke Captain Andy Griffin voluntarily added: "It was a foul, possibly a yellow card, but a red card? No way.
"A couple of weeks ago I was on the end of a straight red myself, which was overturned later, and referees wonder why players sometimes get a bit cross with them.
"Hopefully Styles will look at it and it will be rescinded. I know it's not our prerogative to appeal on John's behalf, but I would like to see justice done and hopefully it will prevail."
Even the fouled Cresswell added: "It was never a sending off."
Sadly for John it was, and will remain so as the evidence available is unable to disprove the original decision.
The Hornets will now make do without the midfielder for the forthcoming trips to Plymouth Argyle, Hull City and the home fixture with Coventry City.
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Post by daverichards on Mar 17, 2008 19:07:36 GMT
good for us then , he misses 3 games
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Post by Spiderman on Mar 17, 2008 19:13:08 GMT
Well said Mr Richards, comedygenius  |
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Post by AlanHansen on Mar 17, 2008 19:19:01 GMT
I should hope not, it was clearly a sending off.
CO
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