St Johnstone lodge appeal against Dave Mackay red card

St Johnstone have lodged their appeal of wrongful dismissal against the ordering-off of captain Dave Mackay.

The defender was shown a red card for allegedly fouling Celtic’s Derk Boerritger during Wednesday night’s Premiership match between the teams at McDiarmid Park.

Mackay was ruled by referee John Beaton to have illegally challenged the Dutchman, conceding a penalty that was subsequently scored by Nir Biton as the Hoops moved towards a 3-0 win.

However, TV pictures raised severe doubts over that decision and appeared to show that the Celtic man had dived.

The matter has now been fast-tracked by the SFA and will be heard by a tribunal at Hampden this Thursday.

The appeal frees Mackay up to face Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park tomorrow.

Significantly, the SFA issued a notice of complaint to Boerrigter for allegedly breaching rule 201 relating to “causing a match official to make an incorrect decision by committing an act of simulation.”

That case will also be heard on Thursday if the Parkhead player doesn’t accept the two-match fixed suspension on offer from the governing body before Monday 3 pm deadline.