Real Madrid’s England star David Beckham on Tuesday won his appeal to have the red card he received on Sunday against Valencia rescinded by the Spanish league’s competition committee.
Beckham went for an early bath after protesting against a decision by referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez three minutes from time and then sarcastically applauding his initial booking as Real crashed to a 2-1 home defeat which cost them top spot.
But after the competition committee agreed the red card should be struck from the record he will now be free to face Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday, giving the ‘meringues’ a boost as they are likely to be without French star Zinedine Zidane with a groin injury.
According to the committee Beckham’s gesture ”in no way comprised an act of disrespect or mockery” towards the referee.
Brazilian front men Ronaldo and Julio Baptista and Spanish defender Michel Salgado are all out of the Deportivo clash as Real look to bridge the two-point gap on shock leaders Getafe. – Sapa-AFP