Adelaide United striker Hiroshi Ibusuki is free to play in Round 4, and will not serve a suspension after Football Australia’s Match Review Panel (MRP) overturned a straight red card brandished by referee Daniel Elder in his side’s clash with Sydney FC on Sunday afternoon.
In a dramatic intervention, the MRP accepted Adelaide’s application for an “Obvious Error Review” of Elder’s decision in the first half of a 2-2 draw at Allianz Stadium.
Ibusuki was dismissed by Elder after he won a loose ball in midfield, but caught Anthony Caceres with studs raised with the follow through of his sliding challenge.
The red card sparked widespread debate among fans, and followed a briefing to clubs and players in pre-season that referees would be clamping down on potentially dangerous play this season, a directive which has already led to dismissals including Melbourne City’s Taras Gomulka in Round 2 and Yan Sasse of Wellington Phoenix in Round 1.
Adelaide submitted the ‘Obvious Error Application’ to FA on Monday morning after coach Carl Veart had criticised the decision in his post-match press conference.
The Japanese striker is now free to play in Adelaide’s homecoming clash with Perth Glory on Sunday, October 30 – Adelaide’s first home game of the season at the redeveloped Coopers Stadium.
A statement released from FA on Monday night read: “The MRP first considered the Application. In accordance with the Regulations, the MRP considered the broadcast footage, match official reports and the submissions on behalf of Ibusuki.
“As Ibusuki was issued with a direct red card, the MRP was first required to determine unanimously that based on the materials above, no direct red card was warranted in the circumstances.
“After due consideration, the MRP held that no direct red card was warranted in the circumstances and the other matters required by the regulations were satisfied. Therefore, the application was accepted, as there was an obvious error in the issuing of the red card.
“Having accepted the application, the MRP has determined that Ibusuki would not be required to serve the mandatory match suspension, will face no further action for the incident, and will have the red card rescinded and removed from his record.”