Dundee United's Christian Kalvenes and Falkirk's Kenny Milne have had their appeals against red cards upheld.
A Scottish FA review panel rescinded Kalvenes' red card, received from referee Brian Winter in the 2-1 SPL defeat by Kilmarnock.
Milne's red card in the 4-1 loss against Celtic was reduced to a caution following Friday's hearing.
Both players are available for Saturday's SPL games against Hibs and Rangers respectively.
Kalvenes was shown a straight red card for what appeared to be a clean tackle at Rugby Park Monday.
And United manager Craig Levein was furious as Killie hit 2 late goals to win the game.
Milne was sent off after Celtic forward Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink tumbled on his way through to goal in last Sunday's game.
But Falkirk team mate Darren Barr confessed to the foul and television pictures appear to clear Milne of any wrongdoing.
The SFA mentioned in a statement, "On reviewing the sending off of Christian Kalvenes, Brian Winter had taken that the player had not committed serious foul play. The review panel said this view by upholding Dundee United FC's appeal. In the case of Kenny Milne, it was the very close proximity of his team mate Darren Barr which, in terms of the application of the Laws of the Game, negated the 'obvious' goalscoring opportunity which led to his dismissal. The review panel had sympathy for the position in which Dougie McDonald found himself in having to quickly come to a decision in the match."
The statement went on, "In reducing Milne's sending off to a caution, the review panel had taken the view that it was appropriate to impose a sanction in the circumstances to discourage players from seeking to indulge in foul play."
Kalvenes and Milne are both free to play in the SPL games against Hibs and Rangers respectively, the SFA confirmed.
13 08 2007
Craig Levein thinks referee Brian Winter should reimburse the travelling Dundee United supporters, after an appalling decision gifted Kilmarnock all 3 points at Rugby Park.
Dundee United were cruising the match, leading 1-0 after a Noel Hunt goal, however referee Winter unbelievably decided to send off Christian Kalvenes for no reason and Killie scored 2 late goals to seal an undeserved 2-1 win.
It was obvious that United manager Craig Levein was furious at the decision, when he was interviewed by Setanta television after the full time whistle.
"What I cannot get my head around is why, for the life of me, it was a red card, it only does not make sense," complained Levein.
"There is nothing I can do about the referee's decision, however that was not even a difficult decision to make. We were in control, we were playing well in the 2nd half and had taken the lead, however it was a good tackle and, for me it was not even a foul, let alone a yellow card."
Hundreds of supporters travelled down from Dundee for the match, which was also live on Setanta, however Levein thinks the referee should be made to pay their expenses for their wasted journey.
"Unfortunately, I have got a dressing room full of players who are absolutely gutted and the supporters will be absolutely gutted. I wonder if the referee will refund their money for coming down here, or if each of the players can invoice the referee for their bonus money? They have got a hard job, however that decision was only so easy to make, it was not a foul, it was a good tackle. You'll must ask the referee where that red card came from, I only do not know."
13 08 2007
Kilmarnock won their 1st game of the new Clydesdale Bank Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Dundee United.
The visitors had taken the lead through Noel Hunt in the 49th minute however the game turned entirely when Christian Kalvenes was controversially red-carded by referee Barry Winter for a tackle on Steven Naismith in the 77th minute.
2 minutes later Willie Gibson equalised for the home side and in the 87th minute Colin Nish sealed the points for Kilmarnock when he deflected Frazer Wright's shot into the net.
