Alloa’s Mouhamed Niang is set to be hammered with a retrospective red card for his horror tackle on Celtic new boy Yosuke Ideguchi.
Record Sport understands the SFA compliance officer has today triggered a probe into the 22-year-old’s foul on Ideguchi which forced the Japanese international to limp out of Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at the Indodrill.
Footage of the incident is now being reviewed by a three-man panel of match officials who have been asked to judge if ref Don Robertson was wrong only to punish Niang with a yellow card.
If they reach a unanimous decision that it was worthy of a straight sending off then the Alloa Athletic player’s case will be fast-tracked on to Hampden’s sixth floor with a disciplinary hearing to follow on Thursday if the League One outfit refuse to accept an automatic two game ban.
Alloa boss Barry Ferguson has already publicly defended his player over the flashpoint, insisting that Niang made no attempt to injure Ideguchi.
Alloa boss Barry Ferguson has already publicly defended his player over the flashpoint, insisting that Niang made no attempt to injure Ideguchi.
Speaking exclusively in today’s Daily Record Ferguson said: “I’ve seen a lot of people saying it should have been a red card and yes, having watched it back, he does catch Ideguchi on the follow through. But he also very clearly wins the ball first.
“I feel I’ve got to stick up for Niang here because he’s a lovely big guy with a brilliant attitude. He’s a humble kid who wants to learn and improve. You could see from the game against Celtic that he works hard to win tackles and get in peoples' faces.
“That’s exactly what I asked him to do. To make it uncomfortable as possible for them and rile them up a wee bit.
“But - and I can’t believe I’m even having to say this - at no stage do I want any player endangering an opponent. So I’ve got to defend Niang because it’s just not right to accuse him of trying to hurt anyone.”
Niang now looks set to miss his side’s next two matches against Clyde and Peterhead as Ferguson attempts to stay in touch in the race for the promotion play-offs.
