ABERDEEN have lost their appeal against Charlie Mulgrew's controversial red card in the 2-1 defeat by Hibernian on Saturday.
Mulgrew was sent off for handling on the line after Steven Fletcher flicked on Derek Riordan's shot with goalkeeper Jamie Langfield stranded.
Fletcher was standing in an offside position in the six-yard box but neither assistant referee Wes Boulst
ridge or referee Mike McCurry spotted the offence.
However, the Dons had been told not to expect success in their claim for wrongful dismissal as the mistake would not be considered.
The SFA insisted Aberdeen would have to prove Mulgrew did not deliberately handle the ball.
McCurry yesterday upheld his decision to dismiss the Scotland Under-21 left-back for denying his opponent a goal.
An SFA statement read: "Having viewed the video evidence, the referee acknowledged that it clearly shows player Steven Fletcher was in an offside position when he struck the ball.
"However, given the circumstances (ie, the offside decision having not been given], the referee had to conclude that the player was correctly sent off."
Riordan stroked home the resulting penalty to win the game for Hibs and help consign Aberdeen to bottom spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
And their punishment will continue as Mulgrew is now suspended for the visit to Falkirk on 18 October.
Aberdeen midfielder Fraser Fyvie, meanwhile, has been included in the Scotland Under-16 squad to face Wales next Friday at Broadwood. The match will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Squad: Goalkeepers: R Thomson (Celtic), S Thomson (Hearts).
Defenders: Hunter, Noble (both Rangers), Kerr (Motherwell), Ketterer (St Mirren), McAusland (Rangers), Young (Celtic).
Midfielders: Fyvie, Grimmer (both Aberdeen), Main, McGeogh (both Rangers), C McGregor (Celtic), G McGregor (Falkirk).
Forwards: Lindsay (Hamilton), Ramsay (St Mirren), Smith, Walker (both Hearts).
The full article contains 304 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
