Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has had a red card overturned to avoid a three-game suspension.

Lampard was sent off in Chelsea's 0-2 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but the Blues appealed the decision by referee Mike Riley and the Football Association announced yesterday the red card had been rescinded.

Lampard is now free to play in the Premier League games against Hull and Aston Villa with an FA Cup match with Watford in between.

Lampard was sent off in the 60th minute for a challenge on Xabi Alonso. But replays showed that he had got to the ball first. Riley also showed yellow cards to four Liverpool and three Chelsea players.

(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 4, 2009)