West Ham have received some good news today as Tomas Soucek has had his red card against Fulham rescinded by the FA. This means that The Hammers have successfully overturned the decision made by Mike Dean in the latter stages of the Premier League match.
Soucek was due to miss the next three games after being dismissed for ‘violent conduct’ for an apparent elbow on Aleksandar Mitrović. The footage showed the West Ham player trying to avoid the striker but due to their height difference inadvertently catch him with his elbow. Even the striker tried to convince the referee that a red-card was the wrong decision.
The decision made by Mike Dean and the VAR Lee Mason was bizarre as many pundits believe that they had clearly got the decision wrong. Bobby Zamora, Peter Crouch, Jamie Redknapp and Gary Lineker were just a few of many that call out the decision.
West Ham will now have star player Tomas Soucek available for selection again after his red-card was rescinded.
Soucek has been one of the club’s best players this season. The Czech midfielder has created a formidable partnership with Declan Rice that protects the backline. Soucek also offers a lot going forward. The midfielder is the club’s top goalscorer this season with eight goals.
One of the main reliefs that manager David Moyes will have about Socuek’s availability is that he won’t have to play Mark Noble in his place. Noble is, of course, a club legend, but his powers have diminished this season and would not be able to fulfil the role Soucek does.
West Ham are next up against Manchester United in the FA Cup Fifth Round on Tuesday night. The Hammers small squad will have to find some energy from somewhere if they are to compete against the Red Devils. Moyes’ side were a shadow of themselves against Fulham in a tired display.