Perth Glory striker Billy Mehmet has had his red card from their match against Newcastle Jets rescinded by the FFA.
Perth Glory striker Billy Mehmet has had his red card from their match against Newcastle Jets rescinded by the FFA and as such been cleared to take on Brisbane Roar this Wednesday.
The FFA admitted referee Strebre Delovski made an error in sending off Mehmet at the time for his two-footed challenge on Newcastle captain Tiago Calvano.
Although the challenge saw Mehmet jump in with both feet and his studs showing, replays showed Mehmet got all ball in the challenge and Tiago-s reaction made the tackle in question appear a whole lot worse than it actually was.
The FFA Match Review Panel issued the following statement in regards to rescinding Mehmet’s red card.
“The MRP unanimously found that it should be upheld and that the decision of the referee was one that “no referee in the possession of the facts, including all Broadcast Footage, could reasonably have made.
“Accordingly, the Player will have the red card expunged from his record and will be available to play in the midweek round of the Hyundai A-League.”
The decision to send Mehmet off earned a huge reaction from Perth Glory players and their coach Ian Ferguson, who was incensed by it at the time.
“In the last four games now it’s cost us dearly,” Ferguson said.
“We keep talking about the same things with referees and red cards and send offs …these decisions are hurting us.”
The inclusion of Mehmet in their squad will undoubtedly help the Glory as they try and deal with the resurgent Roar, especially with Shane Smeltz still in some doubt as he tries to overcome the slight groin strain which kept him out of the match against Newcastle.
