Jose Holebas has been handed an FA Cup final reprieve after his red card against West Ham was revoked.
Watford's left-back was shellshocked on Sunday night after his expulsion in the Hornets' 4-1 defeat appeared to have robbed him of the biggest day in his career.
But within 24 hours, an independent regulatory commission ruled that referee Chris Kavanagh's straight red card for a minimal tug on Hammers forward Michail Antonio – on the advice of linesman Dan Cook - was excessive punishment.
Holebas had faced following in the footsteps of Wilf Rostron, also a left-back, after the former Watford captain was cruelly ruled out of the 1984 final by referee Roger Milford's dreadful decision in a local derby at Luton.
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And his head coach Javi Gracia was close to breaking point, protesting: “I can't believe a player will miss the final for that contact.”
Happily for Gracia, the commission agreed, and Holebas – booked 13 times this season – will be available for the Hornets' apparent mission impossible to deny City a domestic treble.
