Wes Brown red card overturned following 'mix-up' during Manchester United win over Sunderland

John O'Shea appeared to be fouling Radamel Falcao to a greater extent but it was team-mate Brown given his marching orders at Old Trafford

Wes Brown was dismissed for a foul he did not commit (GETTY)

Sunderland have succeeded in overturning the red card shown to defender Wes Brown against Manchester United on Saturday.

Brown was dismissed by referee Roger East for what the official felt was a foul on United striker Radamel Falcao in the area, although it appeared on replays that John O'Shea had been the man to impede the Colombian.

Referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a statement after the match insisting it was not a case of mistaken identity and that East did in fact mean to send Brown off.

East believed he saw contact from O'Shea and Brown on Falcao and sent off the latter as, in his view, Brown's foul had been the crucial one, the statement said.

However, an independent regulatory commission convened by the FA cleared Brown of any wrongdoing and he is free from suspension.

Sunderland will appeal against Wes Brown's red card (GETTY)

A statement posted on the FA's official website read: "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today upheld a claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Wes Brown.

"The Sunderland defender was dismissed in the game against Manchester United on Saturday 28 February 2015 for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

"Therefore, his one-match suspension has been withdrawn with immediate effect."