HIBS boss John Collins has asked the club to appeal the decision to red-card Dean Shiels.

Collins is more convinced than ever the Northern Ireland striker was the victim of a miscarriage of justice in his side's 3-2 defeat at Hearts on Boxing Day.

His calls for a U-turn on the decision comes as Shiels' dad Kenny denied his boy's loss of sight in one eye was behind his collision with Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Collins told club bosses to launch an appeal to have the decision by referee Mike McCurry - made after consultation with linesman Willie Dishington - overturned.

Shiels was ruled to have punched Gordon after scoring from the spot but Hibs insist he was only trying to retrieve the ball from the back of the net.

The SFA have not yet received a communication from Hibs but the club have 24 hours more to deliver notification.

Collins said: "Dean ran in to do one thing and one thing only - try to get the ball. The goalkeeper stepped slightly in his way and Dean put up his hands to protect himself.

"It was a booking but, in my opinion, not a red card in 100 years. I think we would appeal but it is a decision we have to take as a club."

If an appeal is made, the SFA admit there is no guarantee it will be heard during the festive period, freeing Shiels to play against Dunfermline on Saturday and Aberdeen on January 2.

The SFA would have to gather evidence from match officials and arrange a three-man review committee made up of a former player, manager and referee.

SFA disciplinary chief Drew Herbertson said: "The time scale is paramount. We try to deal with such claims before the club's next match is played but it's more difficult at this time of year.

"If an appeal is made it could possibly be dealt with before the Dunfermline game."

Shiels faces an automatic onegame ban if the red card stands and with a "violent conduct" offence carrying 12 penalty points he would be just one more booking away from a further ban.

Shiels declined to comment yesterday but dad Kenny, boss of Northern Ireland Under-17s, leaped to his son's defence.

He also played down suggestions that an operation to remove Dean's right eye last year contributed to the bizarre collision with Gordon.

Shiels Snr said: "It's wrong to blame the loss of Dean's eye - he made a spontaneous attempt to recover the ball and get the game restarted as quickly as possible.

"I don't think he saw Craig until the last second and put his hands up in a protective gesture.

"Craig was as stunned as anyone and was caught off-balance but there was no intent from Dean and he didn't punch the keeper as the linesman indicated.

"There was an adrenalin rush at scoring an important goal, yes, but this was no moment of madness. Dean is distraught because he felt he let his team down but I don't think it was a red card offence.

"I'm glad the club are considering an appeal. They have a good case and I hope the SFA would take into account Dean's excellent disciplinary record.

"He has never been sent off and has been yellow-carded only once this season."

Taken from the Daily Record