Inverness' appeal against James Keatings' controversial dismissal was upheld after the SFA decided the referee's original call was correct.
The Caley Jags striker will miss the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Cup Final against Raith Rovers having been sent off by official Greg Aitken during the last four victory over Rangers Colts.
Keatings was shown a second yellow for diving despite Rangers' Ciaran Dickson appearing to bodycheck him as he burst into the box.
Inverness quickly appealed the decision, citing wrongful caution but their challenge was thrown out on Wednesday afternoon.
Record Sport understands the SFA's three-man panel reviewed the incident and concluded Aitken had not blundered in dismissing Keatings.
Instead, it was ruled that the player had dived despite the video evidence to the contrary.
The former Hibs and Dundee United star will now be suspended for the Final, due to take place in March.
The Championship side have promised to release a statement on the verdict in due course.
After the game, which Inverness won via goals from Keatings and Miles Storey, assistant boss Scott Kellacher branded the decision "disgraceful".
Keatings later posted a replay of the incident on Twitter with the caption: "So now I miss a cup final".
