Aberdeen have found out that influential midfielder Graeme Shinnie will not be available to face Rangers.
This comes after the Dons appealed the red card shown to the Wigan Athletic loanee in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Ross County.
Graeme Shinnie saw red for a dangerous challenge on County defender Jack Baldwin late on in the game and will now face four matches on the sidelines.
This is because the red card was Shinnie’s second in only three matches, the combative midfielder also sent off in the 1-0 win away to St Johnstone.
The second red card v Ross County would have resulted in a three match ban but the SFA have handed the player another game due to the appeal.
Aberdeen furious at Graeme Shinnie call
Naturally the decision hasn’t gone down well with the Dons who’ve released a furious statement.
They’re in “disbelief” and “shock” apparently. You couldn’t mark this mob’s neck with a blowtorch.
The Aberdeen statement reads:
“In the cold light of day, we very carefully considered the decision to appeal Graeme Shinnie’s red card at last Friday’s game against Ross County.
“We eventually decided to appeal in the belief that it had merit and a chance of success after watching the footage numerous times, listening to the various professional pundits on the matter and discussing it with the player and the manager.
“In setting out our appeal, we also reviewed similar tackles in the Scottish Premiership in the last six months where at least two players, who have unintentionally caught an opponent in the follow through of a tackle and were red-carded after VAR reviews, have had their ban over-turned on appeal and their suspensions quashed.
“Each appeal is heard on its own merits, which means that no prior case/appeal decisions are considered. The legal system for hundreds of years has used and relied upon prior cases as evidence. We believe that the omission of these key prior appeal findings will continue to affect consistency of decision-making.
“Scottish FA rules prohibit us from commenting publicly on such decisions, but having been accused of presenting a frivolous appeal our supporters need to know that this is not only insulting to the Club but grossly unfair and entirely untrue. To add a further match ban seems ridiculously harsh and unnecessary.
“We are publicly asking the Scottish FA to urgently review our appeal with a new panel.”
No matter how much Aberdeen want to moan, it’s a red card all day and Graeme Shinnie will just have to suck it up.
But even without the midfielder the weekend’s trip to Pittodire promises to be a tough match and Rangers will need to be at their best to secure victory.
Aberdeen are up to 3rd and are proving Michael Beale right in the process.