Hearts’ Findlay red card appeal rejected by SFA

Scottish FA rejects Hearts’ appeal over Stuart Findlay’s red card; defender suspended for Sunday’s home match against Dundee United.

Hearts’ appeal against Stuart Findlay’s late red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen has been dismissed by the Scottish FA, confirming the 30-year-old defender will serve a one-match suspension.

Findlay was shown a straight red in stoppage time at Pittodrie after bringing down Toyosi Olusanya as the Aberdeen striker ran through on goal, with referee David Dickinson ruling he had not attempted to play the ball. Kevin Nisbet converted the resulting penalty to complete Aberdeen’s late comeback to secure all three points.

Hearts subsequently appealed the decision, arguing Findlay made a genuine attempt to play the ball and highlighting a “near-identical” incident in Motherwell’s win over Hibernian, where Oscar Priestman received only a yellow card for a similar foul.

In a statement on Monday, Hearts said: “Being forced to highlight the consistency, or lack thereof, in refereeing decisions after only one match of the new Scottish Premiership season is not a situation we wish to find ourselves in.” The club added that it shares supporters’ grievances and is taking “appropriate action to rectify the matter,” saying: “We trust that, on this occasion, justice will be served.”

After the appeal was rejected by an Scottish FA fast-track tribunal on Tuesday, Hearts issued a brief follow-up, stating: “The club is disappointed to learn that our appeal against Stuart Findlay’s red card, awarded at Pittodrie on Saturday, has been dismissed. Stuart will now be suspended for Sunday’s Premiership match against Dundee United. The club will be making no further comment.”

Findlay will therefore miss Sunday’s home league fixture against Dundee United.