THE eight Aberdeen footballers who were charged by the SFA after breaching strict coronavirus safety protocols have been hit with three match bans.
However, the bans have been suspended until February 28 next year and will take effect any player is found in broken the governing body's rules again.
Pittodrie players Bruce Anderson, Craig Bryson, Sam Cosgrove, Mikey Devlin, Jonny Hayes, Matty Kennedy, Dylan McGeouch and Scott McKenna all flouted regulations by visiting a city centre bar together after the Rangers game on August 1.
SFA compliance officer Clare Whyte issued them all with notices of complaint earlier this month for breaching Disciplinary Rule 24 and Disciplinary Rule 71
Disciplinary Rule 24 states that players will comply with the rules, procedures and regulations, bye-laws and decisions of the governing body while Disciplinary Rule 71 stipulates that no player shall bring the game into disrepute.
THE SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group accepted a request from the Scottish government for two Aberdeen games to be postponed as a result of the incident.
Aberdeen fined their players and donated the money to NHS Grampian.
Dons manager Derek McInnes appealed for his players to be shown leniency following his side’s 6-0 win over NSI Runavik in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
“They have been punished,” said McInnes. “My players were guilty of nothing other than naivety. There was nobody going out there and thinking they were above the rules.
"My players have been publicly humiliated by far too many people making comment on them, having their say and not letting it go. They've been fined by the club. We'll take what comes.
"The boys have made a mistake. The whole country, not just my players, have been making mistakes left, right and centre."
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