Livingston appeal Scott Pittman red card from draw with St Mirren

Livingston have lodged an appeal against the red card shown to Scott Pittman during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren.

Pittman was dismissed for a challenge on Keanu Baccus but only after a VAR review. Match referee Steven McLean initially showed a yellow card but then watched the incident back on the monitor before changing the punishment to a red card.

The club feel McLean made the wrong call and have submitted an appeal, meaning the incident will now be reviewed by an independent panel.

A hearing has been scheduled for Friday, meaning Pittman will be free to play Motherwell on January 2 if the case is successful.

“I was disappointed with the sending off,” Livingston manager David Martindale said after the game. “I think it’s extremely harsh.

“He wins the ball then it’s debatable whether the player should be in there after Pitts wins the ball.

“Pitts pulls his legs back so I don’t think there is excessive force. I don’t think the ref has made a clear and obvious error by showing the yellow card so why is he looking at the monitor then?

“On Saturday the referee never went and looked at the monitor and had the card out within a few seconds of the challenge.

“We’re still finding our feet with VAR maybe but I genuinely don’t think it was a sending off.”

The club can confirm that we have appealed the red card shown to midfielder Scott Pittman in last night's draw with St Mirren.

We’ll confirm the outcome of that appeal once we’ve received a response. pic.twitter.com/Mo7WCZjLrm
— Livingston Football Club (@LiviFCOfficial) December 29, 2022

The sending off was the second in consecutive games for Livingston, having seen Jason Holt dismissed in the defeat to Hibs on Saturday.

That decision was also been appealed, but a disciplinary panel upheld the original decision on Thursday. Holt will now be banned for games against Motherwell on January 2 and Ross County five days later.