NEWCASTLE // The Newcastle United defender Habib Beye has won his appeal against a red card against Manchester City. The decision means Beye is now available for Saturday's game against local rivals Sunderland. Beye was sent off in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with City on Monday for bringing down the Brazilian star Robinho in the area although TV replays suggested he touched the ball first. The red card automatically leads to a suspension but Newcastle appealed the ruling by referee Rob Styles and the Football Association (FA) found in Beye's favour.
This is the latest incident in a long list of cases that promotes the use of video replays for the referee's disposal. Such a measure would have certainly have prevented the appeal going to a hearing. While Beye is available for the derby clash with Sunderland, striker Michael Own will be missing on Saturday through a groin strain. "Michael, unfortunately, will not be fit in time for Sunderland and, of course, that's a blow to lose a striker of his calibre," the caretaker manager Joe Kinnear told the club's website. *AP
