'Common sense at last' - Watford fans celebrate as Jose Holebas' red card is overturned Watford defender Jose Holebas is available for the FA Cup final after having a red card rescinded. After receiving a straight red card, Holebas was facing a three-match ban. This would have ruled him out of the FA Cup final, although Watford manager Javi Gracia confirmed the plan to appeal this decision. And the appeal was successful. Watford announced that Holebas’ red card has been overturned and that he will be available for selection at Wembley. Holebas was sent off as Watford crashed to a 4-1 defeat at home to West Ham. Early in the second half, the Greek defender was adjudged to have brought Michail Antonio down when the Hammers winger was through on goal. Celtic fans left short-changed by Sky Sports once again This red card brought back nightmares of Wilf Rostron. Back in 1984, Watford were through to the FA Cup final. But left-back Rostron was sent off against Luton Town and missed the final through suspension. The Watford skipper had to watch from the sidelines as Everton beat Watford 2-0. But fellow left-back Holebas will be available for the final against Manchester City. Watford fans flocked to social media to share their views on Holebas’ red card and the decision to appeal the suspension. Here is a selection of the best tweets. might aswell give us the trophy now ? — LoganWFC? (@Logaan202) May 13, 2019 Excellent, so pleased he will be available. Up the ‘Ornets. ??? — Stuart Brown (@StuartJohnBrown) May 13, 2019 Holeback, more like!!! — Rachel (@rachel_sg) May 13, 2019 WOOHOO so happy for him, the team and us ? ?❤ — Cate Ephgrave (@CateEphgrave) May 13, 2019 We’re winning the F.A Cup — Harry Cresswell (@HKCresswell) May 13, 2019 Common sense at last great news ? ?⚽️ — Paula WFC Chapman (@PaigeChapmann1) May 13, 2019<doc-sep>The full-back was sent off during defeat to West Ham on Sunday. Watford defender Jose Holebas is available for Saturday's FA Cup final after his red card against West Ham was rescinded. The 34-year-old was sent off in the 4-1 defeat in Watford's last Premier League game of the season after it was deemed he has pulled back Michail Antonio as the Hammers forward ran through on goal. Hornets head coach Javi Gracia said after the game that the club would definitely appeal and the Football Association announced on Monday afternoon that they had succeeded in having the sending off overturned. As you can see, José is delighted by the news... 🤣 pic.twitter.com/nJ2fMb44Yq — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 13, 2019 "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today [13/05/2019] upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal regarding José Holebas," an FA statement read. "The Watford player was sent off against West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday [12/05/2019] for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity." Watford take on Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final having lost four of their last six league games. Jose Holebas (left) has earned a reputation as a tough-tackling full-back since joining Watford. (Mark Kerton/PA) Greece international defender Holebas was sent off in the 48th minute against West Ham and sat distraught on the pitch before removing his shirt as he slowly made his way down the tunnel. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Gracia called for the decision of referee Chris Kavanagh to be overturned. Asked if the club would appeal, Gracia replied: "For sure. I kept the same attitude during all of the season and I don't want to change at the last one. "[Holebas] cannot miss the final for that reason. For that contact it is never, never a red card. He cannot miss the final for this." Javi's given his backing to José Holebas. pic.twitter.com/MEOziMp05E — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 12, 2019 "I prefer to be respectful to the referees decision and I prefer at this moment to not say what I am thinking about that. "In my opinion, I can't believe one player will miss the final for that contact, I can't believe it. "Maybe it is a foul, soft foul, light foul but I can be angry with that decision. "In this moment it is difficult to accept knowing you have an important game next week." ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'}); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Mark Mann-Bryans, Press Association Sport'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '44f97792-4e64-4cc0-b97b-62f6da32655b'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football'); ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Holebas free to play in FA Cup final after winning red card appeal'});<doc-sep>JOSE HOLEBAS is set to MISS the FA Cup final against Manchester City after his needless red card against West Ham. A rule change earlier this season saw the suspensions for yellow cards relaxed between domestic competitions but sending offs were not affected. 1 Holebas was sent-off moments after the Watford goal Credit: Reuters Neither the Hornets or the Hammers had anything to play for domestically on the final day of the season, but Holebas still succumbed to the red mist. The veteran left-back is set to miss the biggest match of his career after he was given his marching orders for bringing down Michail Antonio when he was through on goal. The Greek international sat down on the pitch shell shocked at the decision as he realised he would be likely to miss out on the Wembley showpiece. Watford may yet appeal and try to get the red card reduced to a yellow in order to get their key left back the green light to face Manchester City in next Saturday’s Cup Final. FINAL COUNTDOWN The controversial decision added to miserable preparations for next week’s match as Watford’s defence gifted West Ham two goals in the first half. Hammers skipper Mark Noble was allowed to run unchecked through the middle of the pitch and into the area. He turned Christian Kabasele and rolling the ball past keeper Ben Foster on 16 minutes. Seven minutes before half time Manuel Lanzini scored his first goal since returning from a serious knee injury after more worrying scenes at the back for Watford. Antonio worked the ball right across the face of Watford’s box then smashed a shot against the bar with Lanzini following up to head into an open goal. Gracia’s team pulled one back just 12 seconds into the second half when sub Pablo Zabaleta’s mishit backpass fell to Gerard Delofeu. He tapped the ball round advancing keeper Lukasz Fabianski then followed it up to tap in a classy goal.<doc-sep>
Watford believe they have a strong chance of having Jose Holebas' FA Cup final suspension overturned. The Hornets defender was given a straight red card in Sunday's 4-1 loss to West Ham after referee Chris Kavanagh felt Holebas had denied Michail Antonio a clear goalscoring opportunity. Holebas briefly put his hand on the Hammers attacker's shoulder as Antonio looked to race clear through on goal. Jose Holebas was sent off for Watford during their 4-1 thumping by West Ham on Sunday Holebas put his hand on Michail Antonio's shoulder while he was running through on goal Watford believe Antonio went down easily but Holebas was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh But the contact was enough for Antonio to go down and Kavanagh promptly brandished the red card meaning Holebas is banned for Saturday's Wembley showpiece against Manchester City. However, the Vicarage Road club have confirmed they are appealing the sending off on grounds they believe there was minimal contact between Holebas and Antonio. They also feel the West Ham star exaggerated his fall and believe they have a strong case for the red card to be rescinded. The red card would mean that Holebas would have to sit out of next week's FA Cup final Hornets boss Javi Gracia said: 'I can't believe a player can miss the final for that play' A decision, however, is likely to rest on whether Kavanagh and his assistant Dan Cook feel they misjudged the ferocity of Holebas' challenge and whether, in hindsight, the awarded foul prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. Watford manager Jan Gracia said: 'I can't believe a player can miss the final for that play, in my opinion it wasn't a foul. I can't agree with that decision. 'I can't think about not being without him for the final, it's difficult to accept.'