Graeme Shinnie appeal: Scottish FA reveals reasons why red card appeal failed
- Published
'A red card all day long' - Dougal on Shinnie dismissal
Aberdeen's appeal against Graeme Shinnie's red card at Ross County was rejected as an SFA tribunal dismissed the suggestion that he did not lunge, did not use excessive force and did not endanger his opponent.
The explanation comes after the Scottish FA took the unusual step of publishing a tribunal's reasoning.
The SFA had already knocked back Aberdeen's request for a new tribunal.
"We felt that the claim had no prospect of success," it stated.
As a result, the tribunal had exercised its right to increase the midfielder's suspension - from three games to four.
Referee Euan Anderson had been called to the pitchside monitor by VAR officials last Friday to review the 31-year-old's tackle on County defender Jack Baldwin and, after reviewing the evidence, sent off Shinnie.
"The fast track tribunal could not reasonably deduce, from the evidence presented, that the opposing player was not endangered by the player's actions as submitted," the SFA stated. "To do so, was entirely unreasonable and implausible."
The SFA revealed Aberdeen had argued that Shinnie "does not lunge in any shape or form, does not engage in any tackle, and makes a clean and successful effort to challenge for the ball, with his eyes remained fixed on it and his foot maintaining a natural position throughout.
"It was submitted that the player made contact with the bottom of the ball, did not use excessive force and at no point has endangered the safety of his opponent, especially as he bends his knee to avoid a follow through and full-on contact.
"It was further submitted that the player's right foot continued in that natural forward motion after contacting the ball, which was deflected off his opponent's leg.
"Finally, the fast track tribunal was invited to accept that the opponent's movements directly influenced the player's."
Aberdeen are, meanwhile, seeking support from other Premiership clubs in order to improve the disciplinary system, arguing that it needs to be more transparent.
They said they were "shocked" by the tribunal's decision and described the outcome as "not only insulting to the club but grossly unfair and entirely untrue".
Players' union PFA Scotland has called for the frivolous appeal punishment to be scrapped in the wake of the Shinnie case, saying many of its members have "lost faith" in the disciplinary system.
Rangers manager Michael Beale, whose side will face Aberdeen without Shinnie on Sunday, also questioned why an appeal should lead to an increased suspension.
"The ban is the ban," he said. "You are allowed to ask the question. I don't think you should be penalised more for asking the question. That seems harsh to me. I wouldn't want that for one of my players."
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