Sportinglife.com reporting that the red has been overturned & no suspension. Full story here Newcastle's title ambitions were given a boost on Friday after striker Craig Bellamy won an appeal against his recent red card at Arsenal.

Bellamy was in line to serve a three-match ban after being sent off for violent conduct due to a clash with Ashley Cole in the incident-packed game at Highbury on December 18, which Newcastle won 3-1.

However, after a hearing in London which was attended by Bellamy and Newcastle manager Bobby Robson, the Football Association ruled the striker will not have to serve any ban.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "An FA disciplinary commission considered the red card again and have taken the view that the suspension will not be imposed, so Craig Bellamy has been successful in his appeal."

The commission, who watched a video replay of the incident and heard evidence, concluded that Bellamy had not deserved to be dismissed by referee Graham Poll.

After many months of relative misery in the capital, this could therefore be seen as leaders Newcastle's third victory in London within the space of a month.

Not only have they broken their London hoodoo with that 3-1 win at Highbury, but Bellamy won his case just a couple of weeks after team-mate Alan Shearer had a red card overturned.

The Newcastle centre-forward was dismissed at Charlton on December 1 for allegedly using his elbow on Jon Fortune but referee Andy D'Urso reversed his decision after watching a replay.

As for Bellamy, the FA are understood to have been impressed by Newcastle's handling of the case, with club chairman Freddy Shepherd also making the journey to London at relatively short notice.

The Welsh international would have otherwise have missed the clash with Manchester United on January 2, the FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace three days later and the home game with Leeds United on January 12.

Although the red card will technically remain on his record, it will not count against him in disciplinary terms after he argued that the connection with Cole's face was entirely accidental.

Cole has already defended his reputation by insisting that he did not cheat by exaggerating the force of the blow.

The 21-year-old defender maintained last week: "I would never do that to get a fellow professional sent off.

"I am not saying that Craig did anything deliberately but it certainly hurt when he connected with my face.

"I don't condone diving in any way, shape or form. That is cheating and I am not a cheat. There was contact even though it may have been accidental."

Arsenal can still expect fall-out from the fixture, with the FA having asked for their observations on Thierry Henry's outburst at the officials after the final whistle.

His overblown reaction followed a number of hotly-contested decisions, including red cards for Ray Parlour and Bellamy as well as a dubious late penalty awarded to Newcastle, and he could yet be charged with misconduct

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Answers

YES!!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Freddy and Bobby's Excellent Journey has created a new tradition, new year prezzies. The sun shines out of our what ? :- {E}

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

And Mr Poll might even take note and learn something.

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Teflon Toon ;o)

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Great news

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Whoh - that's absolutely bloody brilliant. We really need Bellamy at ManU - and I reckon with him in the team we now have a realistic chance of getting a result at OT.

Credit to the FA for having the balls to correct an injustice, and a giant raspberry to that arrogant pillock, Graham Poll, for refusing to even look again at the video and reconsider what was a rash decision.

Frankly, Poll should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. Tosser ©!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

FA In Common Sense Shocker!

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

The other odd thing about this is that the red card has NOT been overturned.. just the suspension. This happened a couple of seasons ago with, I think, Viera. When he was sennt off a second time in the season he received a 5 match ban despite having the original card overturned ... because it was still on his record....

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2001

Will Ashley Cole (referred to as Andy Cole on Ceefax!!) now get booked for diving?

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2001