The English FA have announced that they have decided to overturn the red card Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini received in the Wear-Tyne derby.
The experienced defender was sent off for a challenge on Steven Fletcher with a penalty also awarded to Sunderland.
The decision changed the course of the game, with the Black Cats going on to claim an undeserved 3-0 win, but at least Coloccini will not be missing any action.
“An Independent Regulatory Commission found that the match referee had made an obvious error in dismissing the Newcastle United defender for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity,” said an FA statement.
Newcastle still face the charge for “failing to control their players in relation to their reaction” to said incident, and the club have until Friday to respond.
The heavy loss in the Wear-Tyne derby left the Magpies in the relegation zone and they are now priced at 2.50 (3/2) to return to winning ways against Stoke.
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