James Keatings last night spoke of his sheer joy at having the hugely controversial cup final ban thrown out by a reconvened SFA panel.
The Inverness Caley Thistle attacker received international support and sympathy from throughout football after referee Greg Aitken’s yellow card blunder – for supposed diving – was bizarrely upheld.
The second booking in the semi-final tie with Rangers Colts had threatened to rule the 28-year-old ex-Hibs and Dundee United striker out of the March 28 Challenge Cup final against Raith Rovers.
Widespread furore was sparked by the initial three-man Hampden panel’s judgment in the face of overwhelming video evidence.
But the ruling fell after it emerged some of the panel had failed to carry out their duties properly and view all the evidence.
Keatings can now play – and couldn’t be happier or more grateful for the support received.
Among the millions of social media hits and messages received came support from BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker.
But Keatings stressed it meant just as much to receive backing from pals in amateur football who told him how gutted they would be to miss a minor final of their own.
Keatings, who has spoken out about his battle with mental health issues in the past, said: “Initially, I was pretty sure the referee’s decision was going to be overturned when it went to the first appeal.
“To be told it wasn’t, that was a bit of a shock.
“Today I’m obviously just absolutely delighted. The gaffer had spoken to me leading up to the Dundee United game about how I was feeling, but while obviously gutted, I was focused.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘I’m 28, I’ve had serious injuries and I’ve played with boys who have never made it to a cup final’.
“It doesn’t have to be the biggest of cup finals. I’ve got friends who play in amateur leagues and they were texting me saying ‘it’s a cup final, it’s a chance to win something’.
“That was the disappointing aspect for me, but now the decision has gone in my favour and I couldn’t be happier.”
Tonight’s Scottish Cup quarter-final takes Keatings back to the club where he believes his mental health issues began.
But in hindsight, having won the Scottish Cup and Championship with Hibs, he regards the two-year stint as the best of his career – and one he should never have walked away from.
Keatings said: “Going back there, I’ll encounter a lot of familiar faces but, first and foremost, I want to go there and win tomorrow.
“It is a massive game for our club and for our team. It is huge and it’s one I’m confident about.
“At the time I did leave Hibs, I wasn’t in a good mental state. I was obviously suffering and didn’t realise what I was going through at that time in my life.
“It was the early stages of what I went through but it obviously took a toll on decisions I was making.
“I had the chance to sign a new two-year deal Hibs, which was at a stage in my life where I had no buzz about football.
“I thought to myself ‘move on, get a fresh start’ whereas I look back now and that’s probably the happiest two years and most successful years I spent at such a great club, with great people around about me.
“But that’s the past. These things happen in football. You make decisions and I’m here now – and absolutely loving it.
“What I aim to do is just keep enjoying my football here at Inverness and keep enjoying my life.”
