FOOTBALL: Italian Ref sends off wrong identical twin

Mistaken identity, it seems, is not the sole reserve of officials in the English Premier League with an Italian amateur football match ordered to be replayed after a referee sent off the wrong identical twin.

Andre Marriner was left red-faced when he sent off the wrong Arsenal player against Chelsea last month - dismissing Kieran Gibbs despite real culprit Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain owning up to handball.

In Italy, Michele Rossi, who plays for amateur side SSD Castello in the ninth level of Italian football, was sent off for a foul his brother Matteo committed against GS Alviano.

"The referee, purely due to error, in the 27th minute of the second half sent off SSD Castello's number seven Michele Rossi instead of their number nine Matteo Rossi," wrote Marco Brusco, the sporting judge of the Umbria regional league organisation.

Striker Matteo, who had put Castello 2-1 up, committed a foul that led to a row erupting between the two sides.
Amidst the chaos the referee, a Mr Cirillo from Terni, mistakenly sent off Michele instead of Matteo.

"It was an error that had an undoubted impact on the game and as such the match should be replayed," added Brusco.

FA clear Gibbs and Chamberlain for Swansea tie

Sequel to the Red card awarded to Kieran Gibbs based on mistaken identity instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain in Saturday's six goal thriller against Chelsea, both players will now be available on Tuesday when Arsenal confront Swansea City on Tuesday night.

According to the FA's statement on Arsenal website that reads "An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday’s game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Subsequent to deciding this matter, the commission then considered Arsenal’s claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain. This claim was upheld, meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect."