Referee Lee Mason made an ‘obvious error’ in dismissing Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron during their 2-1 defeat to West Brom.
An Independent Regulatory Commission found that Mason made the wrong decision to send-off the United States international for violent conduct, in a game where the Potters’ went on to lose.
Jonathan Walters’ goal on 81 minutes had cancelled out Stephane Sessegnon’s second-half strike, setting up an exciting finish at the Hawthorns.
However, two minutes later after a coming together between Cameron and Claudio Jacob, the Stoke City defender was shown a red card by referee Mason.
The sending-off appeared to be extremely soft, but Mason had no hesitation in showing Cameron a straight red.
The dismissal meant the 30-year-old was the third Stoke City player to be given their marching orders against West Brom this season, joining Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay who were both sent-off when the two sides met at the Britannia Stadium in August.
The red card proved costly, as Johnny Evans snatched a stoppage-time winner for the Baggies against Mark Hughes’ 10 men.
Stoke City’s appeal to overturn the red card was a success, following a statement released by the FA on Monday.
“An Independent Regulatory Commission found that the match referee had made an obvious error in dismissing the Stoke City player for violent conduct during the game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday,” the Statement said.
Cameron is now clear to face Liverpool in the first leg of the Captial One Cup Semi-final at the Britannia Stadium.
It was a red card that proved costly for Stoke City and for that Lee Mason is Outside 90’s Villain of the Week.
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