Chelsea appeal Mikel red

Blues unhappy with midfielder's United dismissal

Last updated: 23rd September 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Chelsea appeal Mikel red

Mikel: Red-card appeal

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Chelsea are to appeal against John Obi Mikel's red card against Manchester United.

The midfielder was sent off after 32 minutes of the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford following a challenge on Patrice Evra.

Though Mikel went in with his studs showing, he did not dive in two-footed nor raise his foot over the ball.

But referee Mike Dean deemed the tackle dangerous enough to warrant a red card, much to the dismay of Avram Grant.

The new Chelsea boss complained after the game that Dean's decisions had a big influence on the outcome of the match.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also conceded Mikel's dismissal was 'harsh', although he was unhappy that Joe Cole was not sent off for a lunge on Cristiano Ronaldo.

At a news conference after the match, a Chelsea spokesman confirmed the club have lodged an appeal with the Football Association.