Author: BBC Sport
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The officials made a “clear and obvious error” when they sent off Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin in an FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace, an independent regulatory commission said.
Calvert-Lewin, 26, was shown a red card for a tackle on Nathaniel Clyne during the third-round tie on 4 January.
He was facing a three-game ban but the decision was overturned on appeal, which means he is free to play in tonight’s replay against Palace at Goodison Park.
The commission unanimously agreed the tackle did not constitute serious foul play.
Explaining its decision, published on the Football Association (FA) website, the commission said the tackle “lacked force, speed and intensity, and didn’t endanger the safety of the opponent”, meaning it did not meet the threshold required for a red card.
“After considering the guidance offered by the referee advisory panel in relation to the laws of the game, the commission were unanimous in deciding the player didn’t commit an act of serious foul play and that the referee had made a clear and obvious error,” it added.