Hibs’ Gary Deegan in the clear over tackle

Hibs midfielder Gary Deegan has escaped retrospective 
punishment for his contentious challenge on Dundee’s Gary 
Irvine at the weekend.

The Irishman became the 
focus of attention on the 
BBC’s highlights package 
after appearing to catch the Dark Blues defender on the leg 
during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Easter Road.

Referee Craig Charleston 
had halted play almost 
instantly in order to let 
Irvine receive treatment and Vincent Lunny, the SFA’s 
compliance officer, has deemed that the match official was 
close enough to the incident to have seen it properly in real time.

Hearts midfielder Ryan 
Stevenson was handed a 
retrospective two-match ban for his tackle on Hibs captain James McPake during the last Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle earlier this month.

Lunny decided to mete out punishment on that occasion as he felt match referee Willie Collum’s view of the tackle was slightly obscured.

The compliance officer had earlier issued Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson with a 
two-match ban for elbowing Dundee’s John Baird during their Boxing Day encounter.