Aberdeen fans will show their support for banned boss Jim Goodwin by donning masks at their game this weekend.
Goodwin was hit with an eight game ban - six immediate with two suspended - by the Scottish FA for his comments made about Ryan Porteous. The Dons boss accused the Hibs centre back of "blatant cheating" in order to get one of his men sent off during last month's 3-1 Premiership defeat at Easter Road.
The former St Mirren manager has been heavily punished as a result. Many punters have hit out at the governing body's decision feeling the length if ban was excessive. The Pittodrie club have confirmed that they will appeal and cite Robbie Neilson going unpunished for similar comments last season. The Hearts boss accused Lewis Ferguson of cheating after replays showed him to have dived in order to win a penalty for the visitors in a 2-1 loss at Tynecastle.
Goodwin will be in the stands at Tannadice for Aberdeen 's clash with Dundee United on Saturday, and he'll be greeted with the sight of thousands of look-a-likes after the Evening Express launched a campaign of support for the Irishman. They've urged away fans travelling to Tayside to download and cut out Goodwin face masks and wear them to the game in an act of solidarity.
Tam McManus won't be wearing one, however, with the former HIbs striker branding Goodwin "out of order" for his comments.
He said: “He was bang out of order. I think it was a case of trying to influence the ref before the game as well which went against him.
"He said in one of his interviews that he spoke to the referee before the game to keep an eye on Porteous and I thought that was poor as well. You can't try and influence a referee before a game.
“He comes out after it and calls Ryan Porteous a cheat. It wasn’t a clear cheating incident. If it was Alex Schalk and he dived blatantly then you can understand the manager being upset, but it was six and half a dozen. The two of them were grappling, it was a soft penalty. By no means was it cheating by Ryan Porteous. He’s got to take it on the chin.”
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