Albion await FA verdict after appealing against Paul Robinson red card

Jan 29 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post

The FA’s disciplinary committee will decide on Thursday whether the red card shown to West Bromwich Albion's Paul Robinson during Tuesday night’s defeat to Manchester United will stand.

After reviewing video footage of the challenge on United’s Ji-Sung Park in the 40th minute of the 5-0 defeat, Albion submitted an appeal yesterday afternoon to have referee Rob Style’s decision overturned.

The club is now compiling all evidence in a bid to have Robinson available for this Saturday’s vital trip to Hull City.

Robinson was shown a straight red card for ‘serious foul play’ by Styles, although television replays showed the two players sliding in at the same time in a 50-50 challenge.

Manager Tony Mowbray refused to be drawn on Style’s decision immediately after the game but said an appeal would be considered and yesterday Hawthorns legal director/secretary Darren Eales said: “From Mr Styles’ viewpoint, the incident may have seemed worthy of a red card but we believe the video evidence we have compiled proves otherwise.

“We feel it was no more than a 50-50 challenge between two very committed players.”

It was Robinson’s ninth red card of his career and if the appeal is unsuccessful, he faces a three-game ban at a time when Albion are already short of numbers because of recent injuries.

They include regular captain Jonathan Greening, who could be out of action for up to six weeks with medial knee ligament damage.

It isn’t the first time this season Styles has been involved in controversy.

In September he issued an apology to Bolton Wanderers after awarding United a controversial penalty and in October he awarded another contentious penalty against Newcastle United and sent off Habib Beye for the challenge on Manchester City’s Robinho, despite the challenge appearing to be legitimate. The red card was rescinded on appeal and Albion are hoping for a similar outcome.

If Albion are unsuccessful, left-back Marek Cech will step in just a few weeks after criticising Mowbray for leaving him out after he deputised effectively for Robinson during a one-game suspension.

Despite his run-in with Mowbray, the Albion boss is confident the Slovakian defender will continue to do a good job.

“That’s why Marek is here,” Mowbray said. “He’s here because he’s a good footballer and he’s suffered because of the boy in the team in front of him.

“If Robbo does have a ban, Marek will have a chance to play and we’ll see how he goes. He’s done very well in his last few games and was integral in some victories.”

With Greening out and Robinson facing a ban, Mowbray is acutely aware that he will be lacking some important on-field lieutenants.

“Jonathan Greening is a big player for us and he’s a big loss,” said Mowbray. “He’s integral to the way we play and he’s a leader on the pitch.

“When you lose the leaders out of your football team, it becomes more difficult. You need people to pull them together.

“Losing Jonno is a blow but we have to get on with it. It’s part and parcel of football.”

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for Mowbray, who was without nine first-team players for the visit of the English, European and world club champions, as defender Abdoulaye Meite could be back in time for the trip to Hull.

Midfielder James Morrison and defender Gianni Zuiverloon also made comebacks after injury on Tuesday night.

“Hopefully, the injury list is going to start sorting itself out over the next week or two,” Mowbray said.

“I hope that Meite might be pretty close at the weekend. He might make the bench – we’ll have to wait and see.

“Going into some important games over the next few weeks, we could do with one or two back.”