Tansey free to face Hearts after Inverness win appeal

Inverness Caledonian Thistle successfully won their appeal to have Greg Tansey’s red card from Saturday’s loss to Celtic rescinded, with the midfielder’s offence downgraded to a simple foul rather than even a yellow card.

Tansey was dismissed in the 36th minute at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium by referee Stevie O’Reilly following an aerial challenge with Celtic striker Georgios Samaras. Inverness appealed, claiming wrongful dismissal for violent conduct, and, at the SFA’s fast-track tribunal, the verdict went in Caley Thistle’s favour, meaning that Tansey will now be available for tomorrow’s match at Hearts.

Manager Terry Butcher said: “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.”

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 SFA. But the Englishman was in conciliatory mood following the hearing, having described the SFA’s appeals tribunal as a “kangaroo court” immediately after Saturday’s game.

Butcher, who revealed Tansey’s offence had been downgraded to a simple foul without a yellow card, had a “good chat” with the governing body’s compliance officer, Vincent Lunny.

“We need to work together as clubs and players, with referees as well,” Butcher said. “My comments have certainly stirred things up but, as far as I’m concerned, it’s done and dusted and we move on. Nothing can be done in terms of the process this year but Vincent wants everyone happy with the system. We have to work towards that and I think we will. We’ve got the referees meeting next week, so we look forward to seeing them.”