Struijk Red Card Overturned on Appeal

Overview

• A straight red shown to Pascal Struijk after a VAR-led review at Sunderland was rescinded by an independent regulatory commission following Brighton’s appeal.
• The sending-off came after VAR Neil Davies called referee Thomas Bramall to review a 57th-minute incident in which Struijk was judged to have denied Wilson Isidor a goalscoring chance.
• The commission’s finding of wrongful dismissal means Struijk will not serve the one-match suspension and is eligible for Brighton’s match against Crystal Palace this weekend.
• The decision reignites a selection choice for manager Fabian Hürzeler between Struijk and returning captain Lewis Dunk as Brighton weigh form, left-footed balance and squad rotation.
• Reports note Struijk joined Brighton from Leeds this summer for around £18–20m and was making only his second Premier League start, while the episode highlights continuing debate over VAR intervention and post-match appeals.