West Ham win appeal over Kouyate red card

West Ham United have won an appeal against the red card shown to midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate during Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round win at Blackburn Rovers.

The 26-year-old midfielder was adjudged by referee Jonathan Moss to have denied Rovers a clear goal-scoring opportunity when he brought down defender Adam Henley during the 5-1 win.

The Football Association said on its website (www.thefa.com) that an independent regulatory commission had overturned the decision and withdrawn the automatic one-match suspension that accompanies the offence after West Ham appealed.

Kouyate is now available to face Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

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