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Ricardo Santos is clear to play against Charlton Athletic tonight, having had Saturday’s red card at Morecambe overturned by the Football Association.
The Wanderers captain was sent off by referee Ross Joyce at the Mazuma Stadium on Saturday for deliberate handball.
Replays have since clearly shown that the Jonah Ayunga’s shot bounced off the defender’s shoulder, and so neither a red card, nor a penalty should have been awarded.
The FA confirmed in a statement this morning: “Ricardo Santos will be available for Bolton Wanderers FC’s next game.
“The defender was sent off during their EFL League One game on Saturday against Morecambe FC but an independent Regulatory Commission upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal during a subsequent hearing.”
Santos becomes the fourth successive Bolton player or member of coaching staff to have their red card rescinded by the FA’s Discipline Committee after appeal.
Ian Evatt had a red card at Tranmere overturned at the start of last year, and both Marcus Maddison and MJ Williams had suspensions quashed when the club took their case to the FA.
Before Evatt’s successful appeal in January 2021, the club had gone 10 years without winning an appeal with the FA.
Speaking after Saturday's game, Ian Evatt said his side would review the footage from different angles before passing the matter on to club secretary, Simon Marland.
“I have to see the footage and if it’s clear and obvious, which we think it is, then of course we will appeal,” he said.
Amadou Bakayoko also said on Saturday that his team-mate had insisted the shot had bounced off his chest and shoulder.
“I didn’t get a good view but speaking to Rico, there is a clear mark on his shoulder and hopefully we can get that sorted and get him back as soon as possible,” he added.
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