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Man City lodge appeal on Kompany red card

Comment: 0 January 10th, 2012 by: admin

An apparently still-aching Manchester City have filed an official appeal to overturn the red card given to skipper Vincent Kompany last Sunday during the FA Cup match against Manchester United.

The controversial red card given to the captain for an allegedly dirty tackle on Red Devils’ Nani reduced City to a 10-men force against a furious United, which eventually took the victory 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

According to City, the complaint is set to be heard before their League Cup semi-final set against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Currently, the red card is the second one given to Kompany for this season, and unless the squad are successful at appealing the decision, the most recent call could suspend the captain for four matches.  This would take him out of both legs of the upcoming semi-final and league matches against Wigan and Tottenham Hotspur.

He is also at risk of being absent in City’s next game, which is against Liverpool.

According to City, Kompany’s tackle did not merit a call of such degree, as it was a clean challenge that still kept Nani on his feet, and did not even elicit a complaint from the winger.

‘We will win,’ said manager Roberto Mancini regarding the appeal.  ‘I am sure we will win.’

The Italian coach argued that the call by referee Chris Foy was nothing more than the result of the influence of United striker Wayne Rooney, who seemed to be the only one who complained about Kompany’s tackle.

Following the challenge, Rooney was seen rushing to Foy and holding up two fingers, as if urging the official to penalise Kompany for using both feet in the tackle.

‘It was not a red card,’ said the City manager.  ‘Rooney told [Foy] his decision.  This type of tackle happened with Rio Ferdinand and other United defenders many times.’

Mancini was himself put under scrutiny for a similar situation only last week, when he was criticised for waving an imaginary red card during their match against Liverpool.

‘When I did this against Liverpool, people told me not to do it,’ he continued.  ‘I said I was sorry and made a mistake.’

Responding via Twitter, Rooney hit back at Mancini’s statements, saying ‘Funny how people think I got Kompany sent off.  I’m not ref.  I didn’t give red card.  But it was a clear red card.’

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