Purse was sent off at Turf Moor for a high, late lunge on Clarets striker Andrew Cole, which saw Cole have 10 stitches in a gashed shin, forcing him out of Sunday's season finale at Crystal Palace.

But, to the general astonishment of the football community, Purse saw a three-match suspension overturned, enabling him to play at Wembley in the FA Cup Final a week on Saturday.

Kieron O'Connor was in charge of the FAW hearing on Tuesday, and has admitted he has been a Ninian Park regular for the past four years.

O'Connor confirmed his involvement on the panel, but insisted his casting vote was not required, as his two colleagues, John Harris and Bob Waygood, had already made the decision to overturn the red card, enabling Cardiff skipper Purse to lift the FA Cup if the Bluebirds beat Portsmouth.

O'Connor, chief executive of Glamorgan Aluminium, said: "I chaired the meeting and had the casting vote, but it was not needed as the two other councillors voted in favour of the appeal.

"We watched the video more than 50 times and the general opinion was that the tackle was no more than clumsy."

He added: "I have sat on numerous committees over the years covering Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and teams from the Welsh Premier League.

"Cardiff is just another club, and no bias has been used anywhere. We call decisions as we see it – it is as simple as that."

FAW rules dictate that a reckless or clumsy challenge is regarded as a yellow card offence.

A reckless challenge with intent to endanger an opponent is a red card offence.

Meanwhile, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has joined the growing chorus of disapproval of Cardiff's disciplinary matters being dealt with by the Welsh FA, when they play in the English league system.

He said: "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.

"I read that Andy Cole said it was the worst tackle he had received in his whole career.

"I'm not making a big fuss about it – it makes no difference to me if Purse plays or not, but you just want the identical rules for everybody.

"I'm sure anyone who has got any sense will look at it and go 'This is strange isn't it?' Which it is."

Purse now wants an apology from Cole for his "muppet" outburst, when, maybe, the best thing would be to count his lucky stars and forget the incident, before the football world again focusses on the decision in the build-up to the final.

The former Birmingham and West Brom centre back said: "I was disappointed with the comments he came out with.

"I think sometimes in the heat of the moment after a game you can say something you end up regretting.

"I know I would never come out and say anything like that about another professional, especially to the press. Maybe to someone's face you might, but to do it like that was disappointing.

"I've played against him a few times before and never had a problem. He always seemed like a genuine bloke.

"If he wants to come out and apologise then it is up to him, but I am not expecting anything."

Bizarrely, Purse feels he should have had a free kick for a foul by Cole: "The FAW have been fantastic and looked at the appeal and come away with the right decision.

"I've never gone into a tackle looking to hurt somebody. It is not part of my make-up. I go in hard, but fair. I am not a dirty player.

"I was confident of getting it overturned because I knew I had not gone in there with any malice.

"The ball was in the air and we had both gone in.

"I actually thought it was going to be my free-kick. I can't actually see on the video where I caught him to cut him. It is done and dusted and I am just happy with the result."