The Spanish FA has overturned Mason Greenwood‘s red card in Getafe’s dramatic 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
The on-loan Manchester United player was sent off for dissent after emotions erupted during Tuesday’s home loss, which also saw Juanmi Latasa and Damian Suarez receive red cards.
Getafe was preparing to appeal Greenwood’s red card, saying he was not directing his displeasure at Jorge Figueroa Vasquez. The athlete insisted that he said “f*** sake!” not “f*** you!” as the match official stated.
The Spanish FA has now overturned the ruling, determining that Greenwood had sworn about the number of times he had been fouled rather than making an intentional X-rated statement directly at Vasquez.
“The task of this disciplinary body is not to re-referee the matches without determining, where appropriate, the existence of a manifest material error in the referee’s description of the action,’ the Spanish FA said.
“The task of this disciplinary body is not to re-referee the matches without determining, where appropriate, the existence of a manifest material error in the referee’s description of the action,’ the Spanish FA said.
“The repeated viewing of the images has allowed this Committee to conclude, beyond any doubt, that the action that led to the expulsion did not occur as described by the referee and, ultimately, prove the material error manifest in the referee’s report.
“These images demonstrate that the player said, ‘One, two, three, four, f***.”
If his red card is upheld by Spanish football officials, Greenwood may face a four-game suspension.
Vasquez first stated in his post-match report that the United loanee swore at him when explaining why he was dismissed.
The official’s post-match report reads: “In the 50th minute, the player (12) Greenwood, Mason Will John, was sent off for the following reason: He approached me in a sign of protest and raised his arm in the following terms: “F*** you.”.
“Once sent off, he takes the finger to the temple, making a repeated gesture as a sign of disagreement with the decision made.”
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas further stated after the match that he had spoken to the player, who told a different story in protesting his innocence.
“The player told me that he said, “Don’t f*** with me,” only that,’ Bordalas said.
“It was in frustration, but at no point has he insulted anybody.
“It was a comment: “Don’t f*** with me; why won’t you blow the whistle?”
Greenwood’s spell in Spain has seen him score five goals in 15 games across all competitions.
