Referee Mike Riley has agreed to review the red card he awarded to Birmingham's Aliou Cisse in Blues' 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in their first ever Premiership match.
|  |
Cisse: 'Harsh' red card
(Photo/Empics) |
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce, who believes the decision to dismiss the Senegal star on his Premiership debut was 'extremely harsh', asked Riley to look at the video and consider rescinding the red card.
Cisse was dismissed for two bookings after scything down goalscorer Sylvain Wiltord and for a foul on Ashley Cole, which led to accusations the England left back had play-acted.
`I have asked the referee to have a look at it which he has kindly said he
would,' said Bruce.
`I've seen it myself. I've asked Mr Riley, who I think is a very good
referee, to have a look at it and hopefully he may reverse his decision and
Cisse will not be missing through suspension.
`I'm not going to blame Ashley Cole, but I've seen the television replay and
Cisse's done nothing at all.
`Ashley Cole has followed through and kicked Aliou so I'm sure the referee
will have a look at it.
`It was a big day for him, his first game in the Premiership and he's been
sent off for two very harsh decisions.
`I'm quite confident that when the referee sees it he will overturn that
decision. I think he's big enough to do that.'
If Bruce's personal appeal to the referee fails he will be without the
influential midfielder for the home Premiership match with Leeds on August 31.
- NEWS
