Inverness Caledonian Thistle vow to keep up the fight to reverse James Keatings’ Challenge Cup final ban
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There was furore throughout Scottish football and beyond after Caley Thistle's appeal against James Keatings’ second yellow card for alleged diving was rejected.
Footage of the incident in Sunday’s semi-final against Rangers Colts attracted hundreds of thousands of social media hits, while more than 20 clubs – and even BBC pundit Gary Lineker – voiced support, anger and incredulity.
Caley Thistle made it clear they were not prepared to quietly let the matter drop, given their “duty of care” to the distraught Keatings and to supporters.
They will “explore every possible means” of reversing the controversial ruling upheld by a three-man SFA judicial panel.
Chief executive Scot Gardiner said: “Officially, as things stand, you cannot appeal an appeal. We knew that prior to the appeal, so that’s pretty straightforward.
“However, we’re looking at a number of different things.
“We await the written explanation of how the panel came about their decision. We’re reaching out to the SFA and others to discuss what options we may have.
“I think we have gone further than any of the other 41 clubs (have in the past) last night in our statement. We didn’t do it lightly, but it was one of those moments we felt we didn’t have a choice.
“We have a duty of care to James Keatings, or any of our players for that matter, and to our supporters.
“As appreciative as we are of support from fans, chairmen and chief executives of other clubs, and everyone else who has been contacting us, our first duty of care is to our players and our supporters.
“If we do nothing, we feel that will impact us. We’ve seen multiple people in the past say, if the club doesn’t do something I won’t be back.
“Had we lost the game, people could have said it was sour grapes of we were crying salty tears, but the fact we won is by the by. It is a measure of how serious we are in pursuing this.”
Gardiner seemed to rule out an appeal to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), based in Switzerland.
He added: “Our advice is CAS is not an option, but we’re looking into different options.
“We’ve explained to James we will look at absolutely every option, but that, as it stands, he won’t play in the final. We are all incredulous and angry.”
Keatings, the chief executive confirmed, was devastated by the blow of missing the March 28 cup final against Raith Rovers.
Gardiner said: “I spoke to James on Sunday night after the game and he was not in a good place at all.
“Yesterday morning (Tuesday) we were confident we would win the tribunal. I told James that.
“We had received the referee’s statement explaining, from his angle, he believed there to be no contact.
“I felt that left us in a very good place because the video evidence clearly showed that there was contact.
“When James went off to training yesterday I said, ‘we’ll be fine here because, once the panel sees it, we’ll win’.
“That meant telling him the ruling later that day was very difficult.
“The boy was devastated and I understand why he would be. I don’t blame him.
“Players don’t get to national finals too often unless they’re at big clubs and, even then, at some of the bigger clubs you don’t make national finals.
“It means a lot. It doesn’t matter what the tournament is, it is a national final, live on TV and a chance to win a medal.
“That’s why boys like James train all their life and play hard.
“I understand why he was so devastated, and that’s why we really had to come in behind him.”
Gardiner believes the huge row, attracting spotlight even beyond Scottish football, should raise “serious questions” about current appeals procedures at the SFA.
He said: “Our statement was not written lightly at all. There were times I crossed out lines and wrote them back because I felt we had to say this.
“In fairness, the chairman said to me to put his name on it, too, because it is important the club is seen to support our player and it is important to supporters.”
Related article: Caley Thistle demand SFA explain themselves over James Keatings appeal rejection
