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Scottish FA Upholds Marc Leonard Red Card, Ruling Bans Hearts Midfielder for Motherwell

The decision upholds the VAR review to sideline the on-loan midfielder for Motherwell.

Overview

  • A fast-track tribunal on Wednesday rejected Hearts’ appeal, keeping the red card in place and enforcing a one-match ban for Saturday’s home game against Motherwell.
  • Referee Kevin Clancy upgraded a yellow to red after VAR official Don Robertson sent him to the monitor during stoppage time of Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Livingston.
  • The foul was a pull on Robbie Muirhead near the halfway line as Livingston looked to break clear late in the match.
  • Hearts argued through head coach Derek McInnes that defenders Jamie McCart and Jordi Altena were close enough to challenge, so it was not a clear and obvious route to goal.
  • Fast-track panels apply a ‘clear and obvious error’ standard, which is hard to meet for calls on denying a goalscoring chance, so VAR-backed dismissals are rarely overturned.