ABERDEEN will appeal the Scottish FA decision to issue Jim Goodwin an eight-game ban over his comments on Ryan Porteous.
The Pittodrie boss was cited by the governing body after accusing the Hibs defender of "blatant cheating" in Aberdeen's 3-1 loss at Easter Road last month.
Porteous had gone down under a challenge from Liam Scales with a penalty awarded and the Aberdeen defender sent off for a second yellow.
The award irked Goodwin who fumed: “I don’t know how many times the boy Porteous can get away with that kind of stuff.
"We showed our players a number of instances when Porteous has won penalties like that in the past.
"People will say he’s good at it and he’s clever. But it’s blatant cheating as far as I’m concerned and it’s cost my team points."
Goodwin was last night dealt an immediate six-match ban with two further matches suspended until the end of the season.
But furious Aberdeen chiefs have confirmed they will appeal the decision with serious concerns over the "level of sanction imposed".
Goodwin will miss this weekend's match because of the ban with club chiefs suggesting it's unlikely they will receive written reasons behind the decision until next week.
The Aberdeen club statement read: "After being informed of the decision of the Tribunal in today’s disciplinary hearing against Jim Goodwin, the Club is extremely disappointed at the level of sanction imposed on Jim and are taking it very seriously.
"We do not expect to get the written reasons behind the decision until next week, but we will be appealing this decision.
"Meanwhile Jim will be banned from the dugout for the Dundee United game."
