Partick Thistle play down Gary Fraser ban talk

PARTICK Thistle manager Alan Archibald claims it is “madness” to talk about Gary Fraser being suspended for a year for being sent off for his alleged attack on Dunfermline’s Chris Kane.

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald. Picture: SNS

The on-loan Bolton player, 19, has been handed a notice of complaint by the SFA after being cited for “punching a player on the opposing team” and “thereafter kicking him repeatedly on the head and body” during Tuesday night’s under-20s match at Firhill.

Referee Grant Irvine red-carded Kane as well as Thistle’s Dale Keenan and all three players have incurred an automatic two-match suspension. However, it has been claimed Fraser could face a one-year ban when his fate is decided at Hampden on 14 November.

Archibald, preparing to face Celtic at Firhill tomorrow, said: “I wasn’t at the game. The match official’s report doesn’t make good reading. I spoke to Gary. He just said the red mist came down and he retaliated. He knows he let himself down. I think he will get a lengthy ban but some reports are saying a year out of football. I have seen people doing a lot worse and get a lot less, so I think that is madness.”