Falkirk withdraw appeal over Tom Taiwo red card against Hibs

Former Hibees midfielder Taiwo was sent off by referee John Beaton in the 25th minute following a challenge on John McGinn.

Bairns boss Peter Houston indicated immediately after the game that he would ask his club to consider contesting the decision. However, ahead of a fast-track hearing on Thursday, Falkirk revealed in a statement: “The club have withdrawn the appeal after consideration of the evidence to be put forward at the fast-track hearing. Neither Tom, Peter Houston nor Falkirk FC will make any further comment on the matter.”

Taiwo will now miss Falkirk’s trip to face Ayr United on Saturday.

After last weekend’s game, Houston revealed: “We’ve told the SFA we’re appealing the decision. Myself and other people within the club think it didn’t merit a red card and it’s up to the powers that be whether we’re right or wrong.

“Once they have our appeal the referee will go back to it and have a look. It’s really, really difficult for referees, they have decisions to make in a split second and, at the time, I could not tell. But John [McGinn] wasn’t hurt in the incident, he got up straight away, and I hope they see sense. I don’t think it was malicious, I don’t think there were feet off the ground, there wasn’t any over-the-top stuff, there wasn’t anything that I think could have been seen as reckless and endangering the opponent.

“I’ve seen tackles a lot worse than that which have been appealed and won.

“Hopefully, they see it the way I see it and my staff see it.”