Brighton defender Pascal Struijk will be available for this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace after his controversial red card against Sunderland was overturned following a successful appeal.
Struijk was dismissed in the 57th minute of Saturday’s match at the Stadium of Light after being judged to have fouled Wilson Isidor as the Sunderland forward chased a through-ball.
Neither referee Thomas Bramall nor his assistant initially awarded a foul, but video assistant referee Neil Davies intervened and recommended an on-field review. After watching the incident several times, Bramall issued a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
The decision prompted disbelief among Brighton’s players, and the club subsequently challenged the dismissal on the grounds of wrongful sending-off. The appeal was successful, meaning Struijk will not serve the customary one-match suspension.
The reversal comes as a boost to Brighton ahead of the south coast derby, with the defender having only recently joined the club from Leeds in a £20m summer move. Saturday’s match was his second Premier League start for the Seagulls.
Brighton managed to overcome the setback against Sunderland, winning 2-0 despite playing with 10 men for much of the second half.
The result extended their impressive start to the campaign and left them third in the table, five points behind leaders Manchester City.
Struijk’s availability gives Brighton another defensive option as they prepare for a crucial meeting with Palace, while the overturned decision brings an end to a contentious episode involving VAR and the match officials.
