Thursday 21 May 2015 14:49, UK
Motherwell striker Scott McDonald is free to play in the end-of-season play-offs after having his red card against St Mirren overturned on appeal by the Scottish Football Association.
The former Australia, Celtic and Middlesbrough forward was ordered off by referee Brian Colvin who, after taking advice from his fourth official, adjudged him to have clashed with Saints’ Thomas Reilly.
Television replays proved inconclusive and, after a hearing of the Judicial Panel at a Fast Track Tribunal at Hampden Park, the red was reduced to a yellow card.
McDonald said: “I’ll be honest, I’ve been devastated since it happened. I couldn’t believe the ref brandished the red card, as I genuinely didn’t think I had made any contact.
“The officials made a decision and I was angry with them at the time. I know they’ve only got a split second to make the call but I’m glad they’ve seen it for what it really was.
“All my focus is now on trying everything I can to keep Motherwell in the SPFL Premiership.”
General manager Alan Burrows said: “I would like to once again thank the Compliance Officer Tony McGlennan and his staff for arranging the hearing so swiftly along with the members of the panel who sat and considered our case.
“It’s another satisfying conclusion, similar to our McManus appeal last January and Scott can now fully focus on some big games for the club over the next 10 days.”
Motherwell await the winners of the Hibernian v Rangers play-off semi-final for a place in Scotland's top flight next season.
