Banned Kenny Shiels eyes appeal but fears it may be costly

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels is still considering appealing against his touchline ban, but knows that commenting on the case could see him placed in further hot water.

Shiels was handed a four-match ban, two of which are suspended until the end of next season, for remarks about referee Euan Norris following his side’s defeat to Inverness on 3 November. Shiels, who made a personal appearance at a three-hour Scottish Football Association hearing at Hampden on Thursday, will now start a minimum three-match ban after a one-game suspension, hanging over him for comments made about officials last season, was enforced.

“I would love to appeal it because I think I would be totally justified in appealing it,” said Shiels, speaking ahead of today’s game at Aberdeen. “If it was going to a court of law, it would be thrown out after two minutes. But it isn’t. It’s going to football law.

“I can’t afford my club to be spending money on me to keep going up. If it’s costing, I would say no because I can serve the three matches in no time, but I’m principled and I feel it’s 
important that I defend myself and put in an appeal.

“By talking to you guys (the media) it might do me self-
damage for an appeal, but I have to be open with everybody. That’s the way I am. I want to get back to talking about football, but I’ve been unfairly treated and it’s important that there’s an openness from me to you and to the public as to what’s happened. Now everybody knows, which is good. It’s fantastic that everybody knows now, so let’s have the truth out there.

“The truth won’t damage me, I can assure you of that.”

Shiels was found to be in breach of SFA rules for comments made in interviews following the Inverness match that “impinged upon the character of a match official”. Further comments in a newspaper article reporting Killie’s successful appeal over the dismissal of goalkeeper Cammy Bell in the Inverness match were also noted by the SFA judiciary.