Aberdeen have been left “extremely disappointed” after defender Scott McKenna received a two-match ban following a Hampden disciplinary hearing.
A Scottish Football Association fast-track tribunal upheld a charge of serious foul play against McKenna after he injured Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard on Saturday while jumping to meet a lofted forward pass with two feet off the ground.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes argued that McKenna cleared the ball and collided with Edouard, who recovered from a dead leg to start for Celtic against Salzburg as the hearing came to a close.
But the Dons lost their case and the Scotland centre-back will now miss Ladbrokes Premiership games against St Mirren and Hearts.
An Aberdeen statement read: “The club is extremely disappointed with this outcome.”
Speaking before the hearing, McInnes revealed he had been “astonished” by the charge against his player.
“For me, there is no malice there, there is no serious injury to the player,” McInnes said. “It was a kicking action in terms of a clearance. It wasn’t a lunge, as has been reported.
“It was Scott running at speed to clear the ball with his right foot and, because he’s running at speed and cleared the ball with his right foot, the two players have gone into each other.
“I accept in some pictures it doesn’t look great but it’s a clearance. It’s a football act. He’s not just run at the player and lunged into him.
“I thought the referee (Bobby Madden) dealt with it at the time and I’m sure if the referee looked at it again, he wouldn’t be issuing a red card.
“I’m very surprised and disappointed it’s been raised. It was a huge shock to us all. We were astonished to be honest, Scott was surprised as well.”
