Justice prevailed for defender Josh Meekings yesterday but the fight for change at the SFA has only just begun for Caley Thistle manager John Hughes.
Meekings has been cleared to play in next month’s Scottish Cup final against Falkirk, after his notice of complaint for preventing an obvious goalscoring opportunity through deliberate handball was dismissed at Hampden yesterday.
A three-person judicial panel agreed to drop the citation issued by SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan on Tuesday, which offered Meekings a one-game suspension.
Meekings’ handball came moments before half-time in Sunday’s 3-2 semi-final win against Celtic, who led 1-0 at the time.
The incident was not spotted at the time by referee Steven McLean but Celtic attacker Griffiths claimed assistant referee Alan Muir told him he had seen the ball hit the Caley Jags defender’s face.
McGlennan’s unprecedented action of retrospectively punishing Meekings for handball attracted widespread criticism from many high-profile figures within the game, most notably Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce.
Meekings took to social media to express his relief, saying: “Would like to thank everyone for the messages and support given over the last few days. Back to business now, cannot wait.
“I have seen the support from various club’s supporters and I’m very thankful. I can look forward to the final now and get ready for Saturday.”
But manager Hughes, while relieved about the outcome, is furious about the citation, indicating yesterday the saga had brought him to the verge of quitting his position.
Despite the decision ultimately going in his side’s favour, Hughes has called for the entire process to come under scrutiny.
Hughes said: “We need to use this to make sure the whole process works better. Josh’s case was unprecedented. How was that? Someone needs to explain that to me.
“I know the verdict has gone in our favour but I don’t think this is finished. We need to sit down and look at the judicial panel process. There is so much we can learn from all this.
“People might ask why I wasn’t at Hampden but I was supporting him and he was in the hand of lawyers. I believe we put a good case together. The reason I wasn’t there is because I don’t believe in the system and how it operates.
“I don’t believe in the panel, with all due respect to them. I promised myself a couple of years ago I wouldn’t walk back into Hampden until it changes.
“I would never question their integrity but I want football people sitting in judgment.
“They are making a football decision and I want football people. Look at what is at stake.
“Here we were talking about a young player’s chance of playing in a Scottish Cup final. I’d be more confident with football people because they know the game.”