MANCHESTER: Sunderland defender Wes Brown's dismissal during his side's 2-0 loss at Manchester United on Saturday was not a case of mistaken identity, according to referee Roger East.
Brown was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute at Old Trafford after Radamel Falcao went down inside the Sunderland penalty area with Brown and his team-mate John O'Shea in close attendance.
It was O'Shea who appeared to have hauled Falcao back and managers and players expressed confusion over what had happened after the game, but Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said East felt that Brown had also committed a foul on the Colombian.
"From his position Roger East, the match referee, believed he saw contact from John O'Shea and Wes Brown on Radamel Falcao," PGMOL, the body that manages referees in the Premier League, said in a statement.
"As he thought Brown made a foul on Falcao while he was in the act of shooting, he dismissed Brown. After the incident the match referee consulted with his team of officials, but none were better placed to offer guidance."
Wayne Rooney scored the resulting penalty and then added a late second goal to give United victory.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet indicated in his post-match press conference that he was contemplating whether to appeal against Brown's dismissal.
"The referee told the players there were two fouls committed," said Poyet. "One by John O'Shea, one by Wes Brown, and he gave the Wes Brown one. Wes Brown didn't touch anyone, so I don't know what he saw.
"We will put everything on the table and speak to the players and make a decision whether to appeal."
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