Motherwell submit appeal against red card shown to Jack Vale

Motherwell have confirmed that they have appealed against the sending off of Jack Vale during the team’s defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday.

Vale was shown a red card during the 1-0 defeat after his foot caught Aberdeen’s Jack MacKenzie as he brought down a high ball.

Referee Craig Napier judged the incident as serious foul play and dismissed the forward, to the anger and disbelief of Motherwell players and staff. The club has now moved to try and have the decision overturned at an independent disciplinary hearing.

A club statement read: “We can confirm we have appealed the red card shown to Jack Vale on Saturday against Aberdeen. The outcome of this appeal will be communicated in due course.”

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell said on Saturday that the decision was “laughable” but he also criticised Napier for refusing to discuss the decision and revealed that several of his experienced players believed Napier’s attitude towards them was “derogatory”.

“For me it’s laughable,” Kettlewell said. “Jack MacKenzie comes steaming into Jack Vale, I thought it might have been our foul.

“I’m not sure the Aberdeen player has got any place in that vicinity when our player has won the ball and hooked it over his shoulder. And he actually comes charging in, doesn’t decelerate at any point, comes haring into Jack Vale and spins him around.

“We will put a still on it and say his leg is straight and all that nonsense. He has got to the ball first, I think you have to check up when you see the Motherwell player has made contact with the ball.

“But you see the ref’s reaction. We actually had the same reaction for a penalty awarded against us when they take no time whatsoever to stop and think, maybe communicate with the assistants just to see if they are seeing the right thing. And when he brandishes the red card we all know VAR is not going to turn it over.

“I can only tell you my gut feeling, and people will see it different ways, my first reaction was just to start laughing. I couldn’t believe it was given as a red card. Neither can the players.

“I spoke to some of the Aberdeen officials, people who have been around the game a long time, and there is a smirk on their face, almost that they got a big decision in their favour.

“What irks me even more than that, is when you go and ask for a conversation with the referees, as is common practice, he has not allowed any of us in.

“The request came very amicably, we wanted a conversation to ask a couple of questions. Part of that was about his communication to some of our players, experienced players who have played for their country, and in my opinion that derogatory manner that you speak to footballers, it’s not going to get a great reaction.”