Crystal Palace appeal Mateta red card after Tottenham defeat
Crystal Palace are appealing against the red card shown to Jean-Philippe Mateta in their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday 31 October. BBC Sport The France forward was sent off after 13 minutes, with the score still 0-0.
Referee Michael Oliver first booked Mateta with a yellow card for a challenge on Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven. He then changed it to a red after a VAR review. VAR, short for video assistant referee, is a check carried out by officials watching replays, and it can lead a referee to change a decision on the pitch.
The tackle was what decided it. Mateta caught Van de Ven on top of the ankle, with his studs showing. Sky Sports A studs-up challenge is one where a player's boot is raised, and referees treat it as dangerous play.
Playing with ten men, Palace found the going hard. Archie Gray headed Tottenham in front from a corner 12 minutes after the dismissal. Sky Sports Sky Sports reported that the defeat sent Palace into the relegation zone, the bottom three places in the Premier League table.
Mateta, who is 29, now faces a three-match ban. Palace want the decision overturned or the suspension cut. Sky Sports' Ref Watch, a segment in which former officials review contested decisions, has also looked at whether the red card was right. Sky Sports
For Palace, the next step is the appeal. Until it is heard, Mateta's absence is a question mark over the next few fixtures, and a club that has already lost ground in the table will want its striker back as soon as possible.
