Jimmy Jeggo free to play as Hibernian win appeal against red card

Hibernian have been successful in their appeal against a red card shown to Jimmy Jeggo, with the player now free to play in his side’s post-split fixtures against St Mirren and Aberdeen.

Australian midfielder Jeggo was shown a red card early in the second half of Hibs’ 1-1 draw with St Johnstone for a challenge on Saints’ Connor McLennan on the halfway line.

Hibs were shocked by referee Craig Napier’s decision, with manager Lee Johnson branding the decision as the worst he had seen in all his time in football. The club lodged an appeal with the Scottish FA and the incident was reviewed by an independent panel on Wednesday morning.

The panel judged that Napier had made an incorrect decision and downgraded the punishment to a yellow card, meaning Jeggo will no longer have to serve a suspension as his side push for a European place.

Though happy with the outcome, Hibs highlighted what they believe has been a series of poor refereeing decision involving the Easter Road side.

Hibernian FC chief executive Ben Kensell said: “We are pleased that common sense has prevailed, and the appeal panel has overturned Jimmy Jeggo’s red card.

“This is a positive outcome, however, throughout the current campaign, we have raised serious concerns with the standard of officiating across the Scottish game on at least five occasions where decisions have wrongly gone against us.

“We will work with other clubs and the SFA to bring needed improvement to the current systems.”

Kensell’s comments come after Aberdeen vowed to push for change to the disciplinary process after failing to have Graeme Shinnie’s red card overturned and seeing the player incur an extra game’s suspension after the independent panel felt the appeal had no reasonable chance of success.