Post-match reports and interviews suggested that ref David Elleray had sent Freddie off for head-butting David Ginola, and so the fact that Ginola was prepared to testify that Ljungberg did no such thing (and that actually Ginola was hit by a coin thrown by his own fans!) made the prospects for an appeal appear very promising indeed.

But now it looks like there's been some misunderstanding regarding the reason for Freddie's dismissal. Evidence for the head-butt theory comes from various Arsenal players and staff. For example, Nigel Winterburn has said "...several of the lads went up to David Elleray after the final whistle and asked what the red card was for. Tony Adams was told that it was for a head-butt." And Arsène Wenger appeared to indicate that Elleray had said the same thing to him.

But Elleray himself says "I told Mr Wenger why I had sent off Ljungberg, and I never mentioned to anyone that he had head-butted anyone. Any talk of a head-butt is a red-herring and I'm mystified by it. Ljungberg was dismissed for violent conduct which, withbeing too specific, covers offences which include striking, or attempting to strike, an opponent".

It would seem that if Elleray's report to the FA does not mention a head-butt, and it surely will not, there is little basis for an appeal. Although Edinburgh's reaction was exagerrated (to say the least), Ljungberg did shove him, and he also flicked a v-sign.