Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen appeals against West Ham red card

Posted Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by theguardian.com

Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen appeals against West Ham red card
Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal is sent off against West Ham.

Arsenal will learn tomorrow whether their centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will be available to face Birmingham City on Saturday. A Football Association regulatory commission will hear a claim for wrongful dismissal following the Belgian's sending off against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday.

Vermaelen was sent off after tangling with Guillermo Franco as the pair chased a bouncing ball into the penalty area. The referee, Martin Atkinson, was near the halfway line but saw his assistant Phil Sharp flag for a penalty. He therefore deemed the centre-half to have made contact with the forward and Vermaelen was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, confronted the officials at half-time. Alessandro Diamanti missed the penalty and Arsenal won the match 2-0.

Wenger is anxious not to have to travel to St Andrew's without either of his first-choice centre-halves – William Gallas is out with a serious calf injury. Alex Song deputised against West Ham and could do so again, alongside Sol Campbell, should Atkinson's decision be upheld.

"The FA has received a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen," said the FA in a statement. "Vermaelen was shown a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity during Arsenal's match against West Ham United on Saturday 20 March. A Regulatory Commission will hear the claim on Tuesday 23 March."