Purse so relieved to get chance

6:36pm Friday 16th May 2008

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Former Oxford United defender Darren Purse is just relieved he gets a chance to play at Wembley.

Purse was shown a red card during Cardiff's 3-3 draw with Burnley on April 26, after a tackle with Andy Cole, the former Manchester United forward, which left Cole needing ten stitches in a leg wound.

The suspension would normally have ruled him out of his clubs's trip to Wembley, but the Welsh FA (FAW) overturned the ban.

"I'm delighted with the decision made by the FAW disciplinary panel," said Purse, who made more than 70 appearances for Oxford United from 1996-1998 before a £700,000 move to Birmingham City.

"The correct decision was reached and I want to thank those inside and outside of football for the support that's been given to me."

But the decision to overturn the red card did not go down well with Redknapp, especially when it later emerged that Kieron O'Connor, the chairman of the FAW disciplinary panel which cleared Purse to play at Wembley, is a Cardiff City season ticket holder.

Redknapp blasted: "Cardiff play in the English League, play in the English Cup, want to qualify to represent England in the UEFA Cup . . . and then, when they get a player sent off, it goes before the Welsh FA. How can that be right? It's just unreal really.

"I like Darren Purse and I don't want to see him suspended for the Cup final, but in honesty, it's a bit farcical."

Purse, the Cardiff captain, said: "It was never a malicious tackle. It's just something that can happen in a football match. I'm happy to look forward to the game now."

Another former Oxford United skipper, Steve Foster, did miss an FA Cup final through suspension.

He had to sit out the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in 1983, but was back for the replay, won 4-0 by Man Utd.