Jose Cifuentes to miss Viaplay Cup final after Rangers appeal fails

Jose Cifuentes will miss the Viaplay Cup final through suspension after the Rangers midfielder’s bid to overturn a red card failed on appeal.

The Ecuador midfielder was dismissed in the first half of Rangers’ match at Ibrox on Saturday for a challenge on Dundee’s Amadou Bakayoko on the half way line.

Match referee Kevin Clancy had originally shown a yellow card but was invited to review his decision by VAR Stevie Kirkland and, after watching replays of the tackle, changed the decision to a red card.

Rangers immediately submitted an appeal in the hope that the call would be overturned and the automatic suspension that would rule the player out of Sunday’s final would be lifted.

However, an independent panel convened by the Scottish FA upheld Clancy’s decision and stated that the red card should stand, meaning Cifuentes incurs a two-match ban for serious foul play. Rangers will also have to pay a £500 appeal fee within 30 days.

The midfielder will not only miss the Hampden showdown with Aberdeen but will also sit out the Premiership match against St Johnstone at Ibrox on December 20.

Speaking after the game on Saturday, Clement had said he would review the incident before making a call on an appeal.

He said: “I’ve not seen the images back. Jose told me he lost the ball and wanted to win it back.

“He wanted to block the ball but the other guy is a split second faster and tackles through the ball, there’s contact.

“Jose tries to avoid it, he didn’t go through it, so I want to see things back to have a clear and good opinion so we can make an assessment in the next few days (on a possible appeal).”