Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths facing a two-match ban for latest gesture to fans

HIBERNIAN striker Leigh Griffiths has been offered a two-match ban by the Scottish Football Association’s compliance officer after television footage appeared to show him making a one-fingered gesture during his side’s 3-2 defeat to St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at the weekend.

The fixed suspension offered has been increased from the usual one-match ban to two matches because the player has now been reported for this offence twice in the league this season.

On Saturday, Griffiths appeared to be pictured by TV cameras making a single-finger salute to supporters before taking a corner during the home defeat. The 21-year-old recently had sanctions imposed after being found guilty of making an under-arm gesture towards the away fans in an SPL game against Rangers in November, as well as during the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Cowdenbeath, where he gestured to Hibs supporters after scoring.

Hibs were last night weighing up whether or not to challenge the SFA’s latest ban. If they accept the two-game ban – or Griffiths is found guilty at a fast-track tribunal – he will be suspended for Saturday’s trip to face Rangers at Ibrox and the home meeting with Aberdeen on 11 February.

Griffiths is already due to sit out the Scottish Cup fifth-round meeting with Kilmarnock on 4 February following the gesture at Cowdenbeath, meaning it would be the home match with Celtic on 19 February before the player was able to return to first-team action.

Griffiths is not the only player in bother for gesturing at supporters and the SFA also also confirmed yesterday that Motherwell striker Michael Higdon has been offered a one-match ban after an alleged gesture celebrating his goal in Saturday’s draw with Dundee United at Tannadice. Both Hibs and Motherwell have until 3pm today to respond to the notice of complaint.

Earlier yesterday the Fir Park club vowed to contest Higdon’s suspension for allegedly breaching rule 200, which covers “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures”.

Motherwell revealed the outcome of yesterday’s hearing – and their intention to appeal – in a statement on their official website. The statement read: “Motherwell FC today (Tuesday) verbally notified the SFA of the clubs’ intent to contest the fixed one-match suspension offered to Michael Higdon by the compliance officer.

“The club will lodge the official appeal before 3pm tomorrow, at which point the matter will be referred to the judicial panel with a fast-track tribunal convened on Thursday, 26th January.

“The club will make no further comment until after that process has been completed.”

Manager Stuart McCall had made his feelings known on the matter yesterday when he said: “There is no way in a million years it’s comparable to what’s gone on beforehand. I know totally 100 per cent that it wasn’t aimed at any supporters.

“If you actually watch it, it’s a half-hearted gesture, it’s not with any malice, there’s no swearing coming out of his mouth, he’s not angry with anyone.

“It was a non-entity and it’s not even worth talking about.”