Blazers set for u-turn

challenge after declaring one of its members hadn’t considered all available evidence.

Should their verdict, as expected, be reversed, Keatings will be free to face Raith Rovers in next month’s showpiece.

Referee Greg Aitken showed the 28-year-old a second yellow for diving in last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Rangers Colts.

Inverness claimed even the “dogs in the street” knew not overturning it was wrong after replays showed he’d been barged.

Gary Lineker joined a chorus of criticism as Hibs supremo Leeann Dempster and Motherwell counterpart Alan Burrows voiced concerns over the SFA’s disciplinary system.

Caley Thistle boss John Robertson said: “We can just revert back to the original stance that we have a strong case and we’ll resubmit it and hope James gets the right result.

“We had to put out a very strong statement in defence of our player and the response to that has been absolutely incredible.

“We appreciate everybody’s support and the support they’ve given James Keatings because he’s the man that’s had to suffer a long week.”

An appeal date has yet to be announced.

The SFA statement said: “One of the panel members has advised that, despite raising no concerns throughout the process, they did not undertake their obligations with respect to the consideration of all the available evidence.”

The governing body added that chief exec Ian Maxwell, president Rod Petrie and his VP Mike Mulraney “are unanimous that the tribunal outcome cannot be considered competent” as a result.

“With that in mind, and only in extremis based on the information provided by the panel member, the determination cannot be considered valid,” their statement added.

The SFA said the member will not sit on any future tribunals.