Dan Casey free to face Celtic as Motherwell win red card appeal

Motherwell have been successful in overturning a red card shown to Dan Casey that manager Stuart Kettlewell described as “genuinely the worst” decision he had ever seen.

Casey was dismissed after a clash with Kilmarnock’s Danny Armstrong during the 1-1 draw at Fir Park at Friday.

Referee Chris Graham was invited to review his decision on a pitchside monitor by the VAR team but stuck by his conviction that Casey was guilty of violent conduct.

Television replays suggested otherwise, and it’s assumed Graham thought Casey had grabbed Armstrong by the neck. The defender faced a three-match ban due to his previous disciplinary record this season but Motherwell immediately submitted an appeal.

An independent panel convened by the Scottish FA reviewed the incident on Christmas Eve and downgraded the offence from a red card for violent conduct to a booking for pushing or holding an opponent.

Casey can now be selected for Motherwell’s match at Celtic Park on Boxing Day.

Speaking on Monday, Kettlewell was hugely critical of match referee Graham and, in a week where the standard of officials in Scottish football has been under the spotlight, said that the decision was damaging for the reputation of the national game.

“I’ve had contact with other football clubs, I’ve had contact with people that have been in the game a long, long time, people in the media, friends, family,” he said.

“I’ve not spoken to one individual that sees that the same way as the outcome.

“What I’ve got that down to is one individual has seen it that way. For me that’s wholly unacceptable.

“I don’t think we can ever see that, that scenario where it’s so cut and dry, in my opinion, and I know there’s an appeal to be heard and all the rest of it, but I just find it baffling.

“I said it’s in the top three worst decisions that I’ve been involved with in a game of football. In hindsight, I’ve had Saturday and Sunday to look through it again and to compose myself.

“It’s not in the top three, it’s the worst one. It’s genuinely the worst one that I’ve seen.

“But we have to look at this bigger picture as well, and it’s worldwide. That game was on the television. We’re trying to give the best account of ourselves as we possibly can.

“We didn’t play particularly well as a team, but I don’t think that type of decision does the game in this country any favours whatsoever.”