Martindale sent off for 'offensive gesture' after 'showing one minute left with middle finger'

David Martindale insists he was using his middle finger to tell the Hibs goalkeeper how long was left when he was sent off for an offensive gesture in the 4-1 defeat.

The Livingston manager was shown a late red card for the interaction with David Marshall at Almondvale on Saturday.

The incident took place just after the visitor’s fourth goal as Mykola Kukharevych sealed a convincing victory for the Easter Road side in injury time.

Martindale says both he and the former Scotland goalkeeper seen the funny side, but the referee never.

He said: “Marshall asked how long was to go and I shouted back ‘there’s a minute left’ with my middle finger.

“He laughed, I laughed and I got sent off for making an offensive gesture.

“Marshall grabbed me in the tunnel and asked if I got sent off for that. I said ‘yes’ and he said that if I needed him to say anything to please let him know.

“Maybe I let the boys down a wee bit with that. I never done it in that context, it wasn’t in anger. Marshall and I were both laughing.

“The referee said he didn’t want to send me off and I said ‘but you did’. Surely in that context it is not offensive and that must carry a bit of weight.

“I would argue it wasn’t done in an offensive way. It was a bit of banter with Marshall. He laughed, I laughed and that was it.”

When asked whether he would appeal the decision, Martindale replied: “I don’t know. I’ll need to get advice on that.”