Hearts deploy Hibs penalty incident in SFA appeal as Jambos 'forced' into unwanted position over red card

Hearts have appealed the decision to send off Stuart Findlay in Saturday’s Premiership defeat against Aberdeen.

The Jambos lost 2-1 at Pittodrie, holding the lead heading into the closing stages of the second half, before Lewis Mayo’s leveller. Dons striker Toyosi Olusanya was then brought down by centre-back Findlay and referee David Dickinson quickly brandished a red card to the Hearts star. VAR did not intervene to give him a second look and Kevin Nisbet dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

On Sunday, in a similar incident, Motherwell’s Oscar Priestman brought Hibs forward Martin Boyle down inside the penalty box during their clash at Easter Road. The midfielder was shown a yellow card and Hearts have used that flashpoint as part of their reasoning for appealing Findlay’s sending off. Head coach Wouter Vrancken is struggling with defensive injuries and the club feel they have been forced into taking action over the dismissal.

What have Hearts said over Stuart Findlay’s red card vs Aberdeen?

A club statement reads: “Heart of Midlothian can confirm the club is appealing Stuart Findlay’s red card. The defender was shown a straight red in the 92nd minute of Saturday’s defeat at Aberdeen following a foul inside the box, with a penalty also being awarded to the home side. Given our player’s genuine attempt to play the ball, we do not feel that a red card was merited and, as such, will be making that case to the Scottish FA.

“We note with interest a near identical incident during Motherwell’s win over Hibs yesterday, which resulted in a yellow card for Oscar Priestman, not a red. 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.

“However, given the lengthy, worldwide debate around this topic last season, the club feels it is only right to inform our supporters that not only do we share their grievances, we are also taking appropriate action to rectify the matter. We trust that, on this occasion, justice will be served.”

All Premiership matches on the opening weekend were shown on Sky Sports, and pundit Chris Sutton wasn’t sure Priestman’s challenge warranted a penalty, despite Kris Boyd and James McFadden feeling it was a foul inside the box. He said: “The referee doesn’t have to give it. I thought he went down fairly lightly. Once they’ve given it then he’s not turning it over.”