The midfielder was dismissed after 23 minutes against Liverpool, in a match the Toffees went on to lose 2-0.
Referee Martin Atkinson showed the 20-year-old a straight red after a challenge on Luis Suarez, but television replays appeared to show Rodwell won the ball and made minimal contact with the Uruguayan.
More to follow....
Red or dead: Everton's Jack Rodwell was sent off for a challenge few believed was even a foul
Downing admits he wasn't close to the incident on the halfway line but did feel Atkinson had been harsh.
'We played some good stuff at times but the sending-off killed them a bit and made it very hard for them,' the ?20million man said. 'I wasn't near it at the time. It happened that quick I didn't have a greatview of it but at the time I thought it would be a yellow card.
Unbelievable: Rodwell was visibly distraught by the decision of Martin Atkinson
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Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail