Newcastle gives up on appealing Gordon's red card
Eddie Howe said that there was not "sufficient ground" to appeal Anthony Gordon's red card that he picked up against Brighton and Hove Albion in their FA Cup fifth round defeat last weekend.
Gordon was sent off for aiming a mindless push at Jan Paul van Hecke's head seven minutes from full-time, with Danny Welbeck's late winner proving to be the difference.
The England international will now miss Newcastle's next three matches, which includes its Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Gordon's absence will also see him miss the Magpies' Premier League clashes with West Ham United and Brentford, and it could be a huge blow to its European aspiration.
But when asked why the club did not appeal Gordon's sending off, Howe said that conversations with club officials came to the same conclusion.
"It's always a discussion point, and we discussed it with a club with the respective people we needed to discuss it with – lawyers etc – and we felt there wasn't sufficient grounds to do that," Howe said.
"There was no intention from Anthony. He didn't mean to hurt anybody. But, you have to look at it and ask if there is any chance of being successful and if there is no chance, then what is the point of appealing and Anthony understands that."
Howe also confirmed that defender Sven Botman is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up another knee injury.
Botman returned from a 10-month absence in January after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2024, but will now be out for another eight weeks.
The Dutch defender joins Lewis Hall on the injury table, with the England international out for the rest of the campaign after picking up a foot injury against Brighton.
"We have been trying to get him close to full fitness, and he was actually very close for the Brighton game, but the day before he felt the same problem in his knee," Howe said.
"That meant a reset, and we still hoped he could come back, but this week again he felt the same discomfort, so now it looks like he will have to have an operation.
"We hope he will be back in around eight weeks."
