Northampton Town have confirmed that an appeal to overturn the red card shown to right-back Aaron McGowan for violent conduct during their 1-0 home victory over Crawley Town has been rejected by the FA.
With the score goalless, McGowan was shown a straight red card by referee Ross Joyce after consulting with the linesman in the 72nd minute following an off-the-ball incident with Crawley midfielder Jack Roles, with the full-back only seemingly putting his arms around Roles as he went down following a Crawley throw-in.
The news of the failed red card reversal now means the 26-year-old will now be suspended for the club’s next three games, with the right-back missing upcoming matches against Hartlepool United, Mansfield Town and Crewe Alexandra respectively.
The Cobblers would go on to win the game 1-0 at Sixfields as a stunner from Jack Sowerby ten minutes from time earned Jon Brady’s side all three points as they occupy fourth place in the League Two table and currently sit a point behind Stevenage in the automatic promotion places.
The defeat for Crawley however means Scott Lindsey’s side have now lost their last five league games as they sit 23rd in the table. Despite being in the relegation zone along with Rochdale, the Red Devils currently sit three points behind Hartlepool United in 22nd, with the club currently occupying three games in hand over John Askey’s men.
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In a statement released by the club on their official website following the news that McGowan will now be suspended for the next three games, Northampton has gone on to clearly signal their dismay with the decision, as well as going on to define what actually constitutes as ‘violent conduct’.
The club statement reads: “Northampton Town’s appeal against the red card shown to Aaron McGowan has been rejected by the FA. McGowan was sent off in the second half of the 1-0 over Crawley Town for violent conduct.
“Violent conduct is defined as: When a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.
“In addition, a player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.
“No reduction in the ban was agreed by the panel so McGowan must now serve a three match suspension for the incident.
“It is probably best that we, as a club, don’t comment further. We move on to Saturday.”
https://twitter.com/AaronMcGowan_/status/1633135077998616576?s=20
Writers View
When I first saw the red card shown to Aaron McGowan, I thought it was a joke of a decision. With Northampton’s appeal of the red card being rejected by the FA, I personally think it’s an even bigger joke.
I sympathise with McGowan here as I feel he’s done nothing wrong to be on the end of a red card in the first place, let alone a three game ban that is set to come his way as a result. It’s honestly just a really poor decision all-round.
The timing of this news has also come at an inconvenient time for the Cobblers and I can totally understand the club’s frustration ahead of some crucial fixtures to come as they look to continue their push for automatic promotion to League One.
