Kilmarnock lose appeal against red card shown to Kyle Vassell

Kilmarnock have failed in their bid to overturn the red card shown to Kyle Vassell in the 2-0 defeat to Hibernian.

Vassell was sent off by referee John Beaton for a high challenge on Hibs defender Marijan Cabraja in the second half at Easter Road on Saturday.

Beaton initially showed a yellow card to the Killie forward but VAR officials invited him to review his decision and the decision was made to upgrade to a red. Kilmarnock were unhappy with the outcome and lodged an appeal with the Scottish FA on Monday.

An independent panel has now reviewed the incident and upheld Beaton’s decision to show a red card, meaning Vassell will now be suspended for two games. In addition, Kilmarnock have been ordered to pay a fee within 30 days.

The decision is certain to disappoint the Rugby Park club, whose manager Derek McInnes was vocal in his criticism of Beaton after the match.

“There’s no sense that it was a bad challenge,” McInnes said. “You can sniff a red card, there’s a sense that something’s happened which makes you feel a bit uneasy.

“John deals with it at the time. He’s standing right next to it. We move on. I didn’t even think it was a yellow.

“Kyle’s tried to pull out. I think the Hibs player’s went forward into him. Kyle’s got his eyes on the ball the whole time. He tries to keep his foot still, there’s no forward movement.

“They’re in a sanitised room over 50 miles away watching that over and over again, telling the referee you need to have a look at that, that’s a red card.

“The game’s gone mad. That’s not a red card. I’m sick to death of this VAR. It was our turn this week, there will likely be someone else in Scotland today who has suffered as well.

“An experienced referee dealt with the incident. Yet it goes all the way to them and they put pressure on him to look at it differently. It’s no a red card.”