London, Sept 20: The referee who booked Portsmouth's Dejan Stefanovic for bringing down Robert Pires in last weekend's controversial penalty incident at Highbury is to ask for the card to be taken away. Alan Wiley decided to write to the Football Association after viewing video footage of the incident.
But it is understood that his letter makes it clear he still believes it was the correct decision to award a penalty.
Pires was accused of diving to win the penalty, which Thierry Henry converted to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp later described the decision as "embarrassing" and has welcomed Wiley's decision to ask for the booking to be taken away from Stefanovic.
The Portsmouth boss told the Evening Standard: "I am glad the referee's done something about it.
Bureau Report