Neco Williams: Defender free to face Albania despite France red card

Wales' Neco Williams was sent off as his arm was judged to have deflected Karim Benzema's shot

Wales were boosted for Saturday's Euro 2020 warm-up against Albania as Neco Williams was deemed free to play, despite being sent off in Wednesday's 3-0 friendly defeat by France.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) found it had jurisdiction over the disciplinary process.

Fifa told the FAW the matter was one for Uefa, which does not "legislate for sanctions related to friendly matches".

The FAW "sanctioned Williams directly" and allowed him to face Albania.

Liverpool defender Williams, 20, was controversially sent off for handball after just 25 minutes in Nice and was originally expected to be suspended for Saturday's pre-Euro 2020 friendly in Cardiff.

Wales wanted the ban rescinded so the Liverpool defender could gain match fitness for their first Euro 2020 game against Switzerland on 12 June, and Williams was again named in Wales' starting XI against Albania in Cardiff.

After the defeat by France, Wales boss Robert Page said said Williams' sending off was "a bitter one to take", adding: "I thought it was harsh to give a penalty in the first place."

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Wales' match against France was still goalless when Williams was sent off after referee Luis Godinho had consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR), deciding his handball had illegally impeded a goal-bound effort from Karim Benzema.

The home side then went on to win 3-0 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.

Although the result was academic, Page felt the red card ruined the contest for both teams. He also revealed the fourth official, Iancu Ioan Vasilica, later apologised to him.

"It spoilt the game, changed the course of the game, for France as well I imagine because they wanted to get a lot out of the game," said Page.

"When you've got 11 men against France it's tough, so to go down to 10 men you use it then as a tool if the same thing happens in the tournament.

"The fourth official apologised just after half-time. When I said we'd had a look at it [the incident], he just said 'sorry coach'.

"I'm not sure if he was apologising for the decision or the position we ended up in."

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