West Brom win FA appeal to overturn Paul Robinson’s red card
Jan 30 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post
West Bromwich Albion were given a boost before Saturday's vital clash with Hull City when an FA disciplinary committee freed defender Paul Robinson from a three-game ban.
Referee Rob Styles gave the Albion vice-captain a straight red card in the 40th minute of Tuesday’s defeat to Manchester United at The Hawthorns after a challenge on Ji-Sung Park. He was due to miss the trip to the KC Stadium, next Tuesday’s FA Cup replay at Burnley and the home clash against Newcastle United next week.
Albion appealed against the decision and sent a dossier to FA headquarters in Soho Square. After reviewing the evidence, the committee rescinded the red card.
Robinson has been sent off six times for Albion but now two of those decisions have been reversed and manager Tony Mowbray was delighted to have his combative defender back.
“It’s a boost for everyone, particularly when we’ve lost our captain, Jonathan Greening, through injury. Then to lose vice-captain Paul Robinson as well would have been a big loss to us in terms of the character of the team. It’s important we have leaders out there and personalities like that.
“Paul’s a wholehearted player. I see him tackling his own team-mates like that in training every day. I sat in the dressing room after the game and watched it back on the laptop. I couldn’t see a sending-off, so I think it was right we appealed it and I’m delighted it has been upheld.
“Of course it is frustrating that we had to play on with ten men against a team like United. Any dismissal that gets overturned means you feel that way, but great credit to the FA for putting a panel together so quickly to rescind this decision so we are not punished again.”
During an eventful day at Albion, Mowbray also confirmed they were close to completing the signing of Paris Saint Germain midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, but said the 22-year-old was one for the future and may not make an immediate impact at The Hawthorns.
Albion have agreed a permanent transfer with the French side for the Democratic Republic of Congo international, reported in France to be worth £230,000, but the player has yet to agree personal terms or undergo a medical.
It is also claimed in France that a 20 per cent sell-on clause has been agreed with Paris Saint Germain but Albion have yet to reveal any details.
“Nothing is done yet,” Mowbray said. “If it does, he’s a young player who will supplement our club’s underbelly.
“It’s a similar deal to when we signed young (Graham) Dorrans from Livingston. He’s a young player who has got potential and hopefully some time in the future he’ll make an impact on our first team, like Dorrans has done this year.
“I would suggest, if Mulumbu gets done, it won’t impact instantly on our first team. He’s someone who will play in the reserves and we’ll hope we’ve got a footballer somewhere down the line.
“I spoke to PSG manager Paul Le Guen earlier in the week and he likes him as a player. But he has got Claude Makelele in front of him and Jérémy Clement, and he doesn’t feel as if he’s going to get an opportunity.
“Paris have been suffering over the last few years and I think Le Guen feels as if he needs to put experienced footballers back on the pitch to get Paris Saint Germain back where they belong.
“For a pretty small fee they are happy to let it happen because doesn’t see a future for him at their club.”
