Sunderland and Villa to appeal red cards

Sunderland and Aston Villa are to appeal against the red cards shown to George McCartney and Brad Friedel respectively on Sunday, the Football Association announced here Monday.

McCartney was shown a straight red card for “denying a clear goalscoring opportunity” after pulling on the shirt of Shaun Wright-Phillips during Sunderland’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City.

However, replays suggested contact was only minimal at best and referee Steve Tanner only dismissed McCartney after consulting linesman Mo Matadar.

“There was some sort of contact but the goalkeeper had got the ball in his hands,” Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia said after Sunday’s match.

“The referee asked the linesman a question but there was no definitive answer. They ummed and ahhed a bit and came up with that. It was the pivotal moment.”

If the red card is upheld, McCartney will received a one-match ban which would rule him out of Sunderland’s match away to West Ham, his former club, a week on Saturday.

Villa are also contesting the red card shown to Friedel during their 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool. The American goalkeeper was ordered off by referee Martin Atkinson for bringing down Liverpool striker Fernando Torres inside the area in the 65th minute.