CELTIC have launched an appeal against the red card that was shown to defender Virgil van Dijk during Tuesday's defeat to Aberdeen.

The Parkhead side submitted the relevant paperwork for a claim of wrongful dismissal yesterday and the case will be heard by the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary tribunal next Thursday.

That means the Dutch centre-half, who is facing a one-game ban, will be available for tomorrow's visit of Inverness. Should the appeal be dismissed, the 22-year-old will instead sit out the match against Kilmarnock on Friday, March 14.

Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, claimed referee Craig Thomson ruined the game by sending off Van Dijk after just 12 minutes for denying Peter Pawlett a goal-scoring opportunity. "I've seen the red card back," he said. "I didn't think it was one at the time and I still don't."