Inverness win Greg Tansey’s Celtic red card appeal

Inverness have successfully won their appeal to have Greg Tansey’s red card from last weekend’s loss to Celtic rescinded, the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club have confirmed.

The midfielder was dismissed in the 36th minute at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium by referee Stevie O’Reilly following an aerial challenge with Hoops striker Georgios Samaras.

Inverness appealed, claiming wrongful dismissal for violent conduct, and at the SFA’s fast-track tribunal today the verdict went in Caley Thistle’s favour, meaning Tansey will not serve a ban and will now be available for Saturday’s match at Hearts.

Manager Terry Butcher said on the club’s official website, www.ictfc.co.uk: “I’m absolutely delighted for Greg and for the team.

“We felt that the player had been very unlucky in being sent off for the incident with Georgios Samaras and we have been justified in our appeal.

“In fairness to referee O’Reilly, he indicated that he had reviewed the incident and now felt it should not have been a red card. That made the panel’s job easy.

“We viewed what happened as a complete accident and it’s excellent news that justice has been done.”

Manager Butcher was furious about the decision at the time, describing the incident as “deadly assault by fingernail”, and could yet face disciplinary action from the Scottish Football Association.

It was the third time Butcher has travelled to Hampden to appeal a red card, but the first success following dismissals of pleas to rescind red cards for Ross Tokely and Chris Hogg earlier this season.