Aberdeen player Graeme Shinnie gets four-match ban after appeal fails

Aberdeen midfielder Graeme Shinnie has been banned for four games after an appeal against a red card was rejected by a disciplinary panel.

Shinnie was sent off during his side’s win over Ross County on Friday, seeing a straight red card for a challenge on Jack Baldwin.

Referee Euan Anderson dismissed the player after being directed to review the incident by VAR, ruling that Shinnie had used excessive force.

Aberdeen lodged an appeal with the Scottish FA and an independent panel heard the case on Tuesday evening. The panel backed Anderson and reinstated the ban, with an extra match added because they viewed the appeal as being frivolous or having no chance of success.

Shinnie will now miss his side’s next four matches as they look to finish third in the Premiership. In addition to the initial two-match ban for serious foul play, and extra game’s suspension is added since the player was previously sent off against St Johnstone. The fourth game of the ban is added because of the appeal.

After full time at the Global Energy Stadium on Friday, Aberdeen manager Barry Robson told the BBC: “I don’t think it’s a red card.

“He’s won the challenge, we want our players in the Scottish game to challenge and slide tackle. He’s won the ball first, it’s bounced off him, and he’s actually trying to pull his leg in after the challenge.

“For me it’s not a sending off. I want my players to play like that, so I’ll speak to the club after this and see what we can do.

“With VAR it’s just continuous, one thing after another. Every time there’s a decision everyone is asking the referee ‘are you checking it?!’ For me, it’s ruining the game.”

More to follow…