Can red cards be appealed in the Premier League?
By Max Parsons
Never deserved in the eyes of supporting fans, never even punishment enough in the eyes if rival fans - red cards have always been controversial.
Even managers are often in total disagreement over the awards of those devilish rectangles, which is where the appeal process comes in. Should a club feel that their player has been hard done by with their marching orders, they can appeal for the decision to be overturned and have the ban rescinded.
But how? Well, 90min runs through the process below.
How can Premier League red cards be appealed?
Once a straight red card has been awarded, a Premier League club can lodge an appeal under the category of 'wrongful dismissal' with the FA, who will subsequently review the evidence via an independent regulatory commission and potentially overturn the decision and cancel the three-game ban.
These appeals must be lodged within two days of the incident.
If you're wondering why clubs don't always lodge an appeal, there is a reason.
Clubs have to be careful with their appeals. Should the FA deem an appeal to be 'frivolous', then the red-carded player's ban can be extended from three games to four.
That said, of course, appeals can be rejected without any further punishment being brandished.
Can yellow cards be appealed?
There is an event in which a yellow card can be appealed. While clubs can't normally lodge an appeal for a sending-off as a result of a double booking, they can if it is due to mistaken identity.
How has VAR impacted appeals?
As you'd expect, appeals have to be incredibly watertight in modern-day football to be regarded as justified.
With the introduction of VAR, everything is seen by referees numerous times - as was the case when Casemiro received a straight red card for his - according to ex-Aston Villa forward turned pudit Gabriel Agbonlahor - Brock Lesnar impersonation on Will Hughes as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the start of the month.
Had VAR not been involved, Andre Marriner would have actually completely missed the incident and failed to punish the United midfielder. However, following a word in his ear and his on-field review, the referee comfortably sent the Brazilian for an early bath.
Incidents like the recent example at Old Trafford only show just how much time and assurance the new technology gives referees.
With the ability to be even more certain about such decisions, it's incredibly rare for red card decisions to be worthy of further scrutiny. As a result, appeals have had to become absolutely incontrovertible in order for clubs to avoid the possibility of further punishment.