I'm innocent, says Elgin's red card offender
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ELGIN City midfielder David Niven has claimed a mistaken identity led to him being sent off in Saturday's Scottish Cup stalemate at Fraserburgh.
Niven insisted he got the blame for team-mate Jamie Duff's rant at the assistant referee and ended up being shown a second yellow card as a result.
But the player believes he will have little chance of proving his innocence and is set to miss this Saturday's replay between the team's at Borough Briggs.
"I was given a second booking for dissent, for shouting at the linesman," Niven explained. "But Jamie Duff has admitted it was him, so it was a case of mistaken identity.
"I was actually miles away from the play and I was already on a yellow card, so i'm not going to shout abuse when I'm on a booking.
"I tried to speak to him (the ref) about it but he didn't want to. The linesman even said it was number 5 (Jamie Duff) at first and then changed his mind and said number 2 (Niven).
"Apparently he said to the gaffer (Ross Jack) he was 100% it was me, but he got it wrong the first time so how could he be 100% sure?"
Niven would like to clear his name but feels he won't get the opportunity.
"I don't know if the gaffer wants to appeal it but I don't think you are ever going to win these things anyway.
"It looks like that's me out of the replay. It could cost me my place in the team if the boys go on and win because it's hard to change a winning team.
"It could have cost the team big time as well, being down to ten men for the last 15-20 minutes, but they did well and could have gone on to win it."
Niven may not be the only Elgin player to miss out on next week's match, as keeper Zander Clark came off concussed after 45 minutes and could possibly be ruled out of the replay on medical grounds.
His half time replacement John Calder pulled off some good saves in the second half and will get the nod to start Saturday's replay if Clark fails a fitness test.
For all the Scottish Cup reaction and latest Elgin City news, see Friday's Northern Scot.
