Past Caley Thistle hero Ross Tokely blasts SFA for failing to lift Keatings' Challenge Cup final ban
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Caley Thistle legend Ross Tokely has expressed shock and disbelief after James Keatings’ Challenge Cup final ban was upheld.
The SFA threw out the Inverness club’s appeal against the attacker’s second yellow card in the 2–1 semi-final victory over Rangers Colts on Sunday.
A distraught Keatings will now miss the final against Raith Rovers on March 28.
Tokely, who was commentating for BBC Alba at the match, branded referee Greg Aitken “arrogant” for sticking to his guns when video evidence clearly showed the player had been caught by young Rangers defender Ciaran Dickson.
With 513 first team appearances in 16 years for ICT, Tokely remains the club record-holder.
He said: “In real-time, I didn’t think it was a penalty. I thought James was losing his balance and certainly not diving, but going at real pace. He has quite a low centre of gravity anyway.
“I saw the Rangers boy coming in from the side, but in commentary I couldn’t really say for sure, from that high vantage point, what had happened.
“I had to watch the replay to be sure what I was saying was right.
“But once I saw the first replay, straight away I knew it wasn’t a dive.
“He was driving into the box and the boy has connected with his waist. You can see it clearly as well from the Rangers’ player’s reaction when he puts his hands up – that’s a tell-tale sign, for me, that there’s contact.
"I'm shocked this hasn't been rescinded.”
Tokely suspects referee Aitken’s actions might be vindictive after previous confrontations with Robertson, including a dispute over a disallowed penalty away to Ayr.
Tokely said: “I didn’t really realise the relationship between the referee and Robbo’s reaction afterwards. Apparently there’s a bit of history between them and I was told later about what happened at Ayr.
“It’s a difficult one because referees are fairly arrogant these days.
“They want it to be about them, rather than the game, and the poor lad now misses the final of a national cup.
“The referee has surely had a look at the footage, but he’s stuck to his guns and that goes back to being arrogant.
“He’s obviously also had a cracking, close-up view, better than I did in commentary, seeing it right up close.
“I saw the Connor MacLennan incident in the Aberdeen-Celtic game and that, to me, is simulation. That was a clear dive.
“But James Keatings clearly wasn’t looking for anything other than a scoring opportunity.”
Tokely lifted the Challenge Cup with Caley Thistle, beating Airdrie in 2003.
He stressed: “It’s a cup final that Caley Thistle have won a couple of times in the past. I won it myself and it was great to get a medal.
“I remember Gary Warren missed major finals for Inverness and the longer you go in your career, the more it means.
“I certainly feel terrible for the lad because it is a chance to win a medal and be part of it. I’m sure, on the day, he’ll feel even worse.
“I just thought the referee would have a bit of common sense and say ‘I’ve made a mistake’.
“Everyone makes mistakes in everyday life and I just can’t believe the ruling.
"I’d have thought the SFA would have had a bit of compassion and seen it for what it was because I think everybody in football would know that’s not a dive.
“I don’t know who is on these panels nowadays, but it seems to me like it must be non-football people.
“I think if you asked any ex-football player if it was a yellow card or not, the answer would be a clear ‘no’ for 99 per cent of them.
“I know John Robertson will be absolutely furious and I can totally understand why.”
