West Ham will win their appeal over the red card shown to Tomas Soucek, according to reports in The Sun
In the 97th minute of Saturday evening's, 0-0 draw with Fulham referee Mike Dean adjudged the contact between Soucek and Aleksandar Mitrovic to have been violent conduct after a lengthy delay.
Video Assistant Referee Lee Mason advised Dean to watch the incident multiple times on the pitchside monitor and between the two officials it was deemed a red card worthy incident.
The accidental contact between the two was seen throughout the game as just that, accidental. Hammers boss David Moyes, Scott Parker, and Mitrovic himself agreed it was not worthy of a red card.
Moyes called the decision ' embarrassing ' and his opposite number Parker said the decision was ' harsh '.
The only men who seemed to think the incident warranted a sending off were Dean, Mason and BBC pundit Chris Sutton who called Soucek's actions 'dangerous'.
The Sun have reported that Dean's bosses at the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Board), have told Dean he got the decision wrong.
If that is the case Soucek will have his red card rescinded and no longer face a three-game suspension. The ban was set to force the Czech international out of Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United, and Premier League matches against Sheffield United and London rivals Tottenham.
The are three huge games for the Hammers and ones they would not want their top-scorer to be on the sidelines for.
West Ham confirmed on Sunday they were appealing Dean's decision and the incident will now be viewed by an independent panel.
If the panel feel Dean was technically right to dismiss Soucek the card and three-game suspension will still apply.
