Sunderland handed huge pre-Portsmouth boost | OneFootball

Sunderland have been boosted by the news that Alim Öztürk’s red card has been successfully overturned following an appeal.

Öztürk was sent off after he was adjudged to have fouled Portsmouth’s Gareth Evans during Saturday’s League One play-off semi-final first leg at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats appealed the decision on the basis that the Turkish defender was not the last man, and the Football Association confirmed that Öztürk will no longer face a suspension.

“Alim Öztürk’s suspension has been withdrawn with immediate effect after a claim of wrongful dismissal was upheld by an Independent Regulatory Commission today [13/05/2019],” read a statement released by the FA.

“The Sunderland AFC defender was sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the first leg of the EFL League One Play-off Semi-final against Portsmouth on Saturday [11/05/2019].”

The 26-year-old will therefore be available for selection when Jack Ross’s side travel to Fratton Park for the second leg on Thursday.

Sunderland will be hoping to successfully defend a 1-0 lead in the second leg.