Pascal Struijk's Red Card Overturned After Brighton Appeal Against VAR Decision

Posted : 14 October 2026

Brighton and Hove Albion defender Pascal Struijk has had his controversial red card against Sunderland overturned following a successful appeal against wrongful dismissal. The decision, confirmed on Wednesday, means the Dutch defender will avoid a one-match suspension and be available for Brighton's upcoming Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

Struijk was dismissed in the 57th minute of Saturday's match at the Stadium of Light after being adjudged to have fouled Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor, who was chasing a through-ball towards goal. Initially, referee Thomas Bramall and his assistant allowed play to continue without awarding a foul. However, video assistant referee Neil Davies intervened and recommended an on-field review.

After examining the replay several times, Bramall changed his initial assessment and showed Struijk a straight red card for denying an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The decision sparked disbelief among Brighton players, who questioned whether Isidor would have reached the ball before goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

An independent Football Association Regulatory Commission subsequently upheld Brighton's appeal, ruling that the dismissal amounted to wrongful dismissal. The successful challenge removes the automatic suspension that would otherwise have prevented Struijk from featuring against Crystal Palace this weekend.

The incident has also prompted debate over the use of VAR in decisions involving potential goalscoring opportunities. Football analyst Dale Johnson argued that there was too much uncertainty over whether Isidor could have reached the ball ahead of Verbruggen for the incident to qualify as an obvious goalscoring opportunity. He suggested the referee should have maintained his original decision rather than following the VAR recommendation.

Struijk joined Brighton from Leeds United in a transfer worth approximately £20 million during the summer. The defender was making only his second Premier League start for Fabian Hürzeler's side when the incident occurred.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Brighton held on to their advantage and secured a 2-0 victory. Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring before Jaouen Hadjam added a late second goal, extending the Seagulls' impressive start to the season.

The result kept Brighton third in the Premier League standings, five points behind leaders Manchester City. With the appeal now successful, Struijk can return to selection as Brighton look to maintain their strong form and continue challenging near the top of the table.

Pascal Struijk's Red Card Overturned After Brighton Appeal Against VAR Decision

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