The red card shown to Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister against Bournemouth last Saturday has been rescinded, meaning he will no longer receive a three-match ban.
The £35m summer signing was sent off on his first league appearance at Anfield by the referee Thomas Bramall for a 58th-minute foul on Ryan Christie. Although his boot was high when he made contact with the Bournemouth player, there appeared to be little force in the challenge and there was surprise that the VAR, Paul Tierney, did not ask Bramall to review the decision on the pitchside monitor.
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Mac Allister was scheduled to miss games against Newcastle on Sunday and against Aston Villa and Wolves in September. But Liverpool appealed against the red card on Monday and the Argentina midfielder is now available for all three games.
In a statement the Football Association said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has removed Alexis Mac Allister’s three-match suspension following a claim of wrongful dismissal.”
Jürgen Klopp had said of the on-field decision: “After the game I saw it back. I think if you have a list of points, what we need to give a red card, besides contact there’s nothing else, no other boxes ticked. It’s a decision we all agree if he gives a yellow card VAR would not overturn it and if he gives a red card VAR will not overturn it because contact means it’s not a clear and obvious mistake.”
Liverpool responded to the FA decision by saying: “A club appeal against the suspension has now been upheld by an independent regulatory commission, meaning Mac Allister is eligible for selection when the Reds travel to Newcastle United on Sunday.”
