Prem panel backs Struijk red card even though FA overturned suspension

Pascal Struijk was shown a red card by referee Thomas Bramall after 57 minutes of Brighton's victory at Sunderland [Getty Images] The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has supported Pascal Struijk's red card against Sunderland - despite the Brighton defender having his suspension overturned on appeal. Struijk was sent off after 57 minutes at the Stadium of Light when he was adjudged to have fouled Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor as he tried to run on to a through-ball. Referee Thomas Bramall did not give a foul initially, but he was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR), Neil Davies, who deemed the Dutch defender had denied Isidor an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Brighton successfully challenged the red card at a Football Association disciplinary commission, meaning he was available for Sunday's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace - though he missed the game through injury anyway. The three members of the FA commission unanimously determined that Isidor "had not taken control of the ball and the pass was clearly going to run through to the goalkeeper". Yet the KMI Panel, upon which five people sit, came to the opposite conclusion, with both votes split 3:2. It decided Bramall was incorrect not to give a foul and a red card, and the VAR was right to intervene. Only two panellists felt the intervention was "incorrect due to the subjectivity of whether Isidor would gain possession" before goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The KMI Panel features three former players or coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and Pro Ref.