Caley Thistle forward Dani Lopez will today discover his fate after being suspended by his club for allegedly spitting at a St Johnstone player.
The 30-year-old Spaniard was suspended following allegations he spat on Saints defender Neil Martyniuk in an SPFL development match last week.
Chairman Kenny Cameron and manager John Hughes will meet with Lopez today to decide what action will be taken.
The former Atletico Madrid youth team player was sent off by referee Chris Hogg following the altercation during Inverness’ 1-0 win against St Johnstone. It is alleged Lopez was punched during the incident.
An automatic two-match ban was imposed on Lopez by the Scottish FA following his red card, the first of which was served at the weekend.
Manager John Hughes said the incident was completely out of character for the Spaniard, who has scored once in 10 matches since joining the Caley Jags from Spanish third tier side La Roda in the summer.
He said: “We don’t condone his behaviour but everybody does deserve a second chance.
“He struggles a bit with the language. He is over here with his wife and a new-born child and sometimes he needs that bit of support.
“I feel I am caught between a rock and a hard place. We will get our heads together and do the best for the club first and foremost.
“We did carry out an investigation. I think he spat on the back of the St Johnstone player’s shoulder after he was slapped. I can’t condone that. Players have to control their emotions.
“Dani is a lovely lad and this was out of character. He keeps himself to himself, comes in and trains and is a real family man.
“If you go and watch the under-20 team, if Dani is not playing he is there with his wife and child watching the game.
“It was out of character but I can’t condone it.”
Hughes knows it is imperative the club takes the right course of action and added: “First and foremost, I think our reaction shows the rest of Scottish football that we can police it ourselves. We raised the profile of the club last year by winning the cup and a lot of young kids want to come to Inverness, so we had to take the right action.
“The profile of the club cannot be tarnished. Hopefully no matter what decision we make it will be the right one.”