Lucas Digne has seen his three-game ban reduced to just one following his sending off during Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Southampton on Sunday.
The France international was shown a red card after he appeared to stand on Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters but upon further inspection, the incident seemed more accidental than a case of serious foul play.
Toffees boss Ancelotti said after the match:
"It was a joke. It was not violent conduct so they could’ve checked better. Maybe all the rumours during the week against [Jordan] Pickford and against Richarlison affected the decision, and if it is like this, it’s not right. It’s not fair."
Everton appealed the severity of the punishment handed out to Digne, with an Independent Regulatory Commission accepting the case put forth and reducing the ban to just one match.
An FA statement read:
"An independent Regulatory Commission has upheld a claim of clearly excessive punishment in relation to Everton FC’s Lucas Digne. The defender was sent off for serious foul play during a Premier League fixture against Southampton FC on Sunday 25 October 2020 and would have been suspended for three fixtures.However, the independent Regulatory Commission has withdrawn his original suspension and applied a one-match suspension instead."
Digne’s suspension will see him miss Everton’s trip to Newcastle United on Sunday, with fellow Frenchman Niels Nkounkou the favourite to replace him following his impressive performances in the EFL Cup.
However, Digne will be free to return to the starting XI for the visit of Manchester United on Saturday, November 7th.