Bruce welcomes referee's u-turn

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has welcomed referee Mike Riley’s decision to rescind Aliou Cisse’s second booking which means the Senegal midfielder will not be hit with a one-match ban.

Cisse was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards during Birmingham’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

But after viewing a video replay of the incident in which Cisse clashed with Ashley Cole, the referee has decided the second caution was not merited.

"We were very pleased that referee Mike Riley chose to review and then subsequently rescind the second yellow card," Bruce said.

"We are delighted that common sense has prevailed and that Mr Riley was strong enough to have a look at the challenge again using the benefit of a video replay.

"I said prior to the game that Mr Riley is one of the best referees in the country and I still stand by that.

"I have written to him personally to thank him and I would also like to thank him publicly," he told Birmingham’s website www.bcfc.com.

Following Mr Riley’s decision to rescind the second yellow card the Football Association issued a statement on their website, www.thefa.org.

It read: "Following the Arsenal versus Birmingham match on Sunday, match referee Mike Riley has reviewed the sending off of Aliou Cisse.

"He has decided that the tackle was careless and warranted a free-kick rather than reckless, which he thought at the time, and has asked that the second caution should not be issued.

"Therefore it has been agreed that the player will have a caution recorded against him for the first offence and will not have to serve a one-match suspension."

Although that is the end of the matter for Cisse, senior FA figures last night were deliberating whether Cole’s part in the incident should be formally investigated.

Given that there was little, if any, contact between him and Cisse, the question is whether the Arsenal full-back jumped out of the way of an impending tackle or made a meal of it.

Effectively, the FA must now decide whether Cole should have to defend himself against a charge of diving or ungentlemanly conduct.

Sky Sports pundit David O’Leary led the criticism of Cole immediately after the game, claiming that his conduct was "disgraceful" and that he is "getting a habit of getting people sent off".

There is by no means any certainty that they will act against the England international and any misconduct charge, warning or verbal reprimand would almost certainly enrage Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

However, the Arsenal full-back should at least be helped not only by Riley’s comments that a free-kick was still justified, but also by the reaction of Cisse immediately after the game.

The Senegal World Cup captain declared: "He saw me coming to tackle him and tried to jump out of the way.

"I made hardly any contact with him, if at all, and I certainly did not deserve to be sent off. But he did not try to get me sent off and I do not blame him."

Cole has already defended himself publicly, insisting: "I do not dive. I am not a cheat and I have never tried to get another player sent off. Never.

"The Birmingham player did make contact with me even if it was only slight. I was hurt but I got up again as soon as I could. I didn’t stay down for a long time or anything."