Hibs accept SFA’s offer of one-match ban for Leigh Griffiths

Leigh Griffiths will miss Saturday’s SPL encounter with Aberdeen after Hibs accepted the offer of a one-match ban for an offensive gesture towards Rangers supporters.

The on-loan Wolves forward reacted angrily to taunts from the travelling support during the 2-0 home defeat against the champions at the weekend, prompting a crude underarm motion towards the away section.

The incident was missed by referee Iain Brines, but television pictures proved damning, and SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny, having reviewed the footage, decided a one-match ban was merited. Although Hibs had until 3pm this afternoon to make a decision, their choice not to appeal was almost immediate – ruling the Scotland Under-21 international out of this weekend’s vital drop-zone clash with Craig Brown’s side.

The case follows the precedent set by St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas, who received a one-match ban for gesturing towards the Rangers fans during a recent draw at Ibrox.

It is a miserable culmination of a disappointing weekend for Griffiths, who also squandered a wonderful opportunity to give the home side the lead against Rangers a matter of minutes after carrying out the misdemeanour which has seen him hauled over the coals by the authorities.

It leaves Pat Fenlon without one of his most potent attacking weapons for a testing trip north. A Hibs club statement said: “Hibernian FC confirmed it would not be appealing the Notice of Complaint issued by the Scottish FA Compliance Officer against Leigh Griffiths and would accept the one-match suspension offered.”

While the ban for Griffiths is a substantial blow for the Easter Road side, it could offer a window for one of the club’s brightest young prospects to make an impact in the Hibs first team. Teenager Ross Caldwell has made an immediate impression on new manager Pat Fenlon, and was promoted to the bench for the abandoned encounter with Motherwell as well as Saturday’s defeat to Rangers.

The 18-year-old even got a run-out late in the day against Ally McCoist’s men as Fenlon steels the youngster for first-team opportunities to come. When drawn on Caldwell, who has scored ten goals at under-19 level this season, the Hibs manager said: “He’s got a big future here if he keeps going the way he’s been going so far. He’s a handful to play against. You could see that against Rangers – he was only on for a couple of minutes and he went up against some big players, but he didn’t fear it.”