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Cédric Kipré has won his appeal against the red card shown to him against Celtic.

A claim of wrongful dismissal was accepted by a judicial panel at Hampden Park on Thursday, overturning the decision and cancelling a resulting two-game suspension.

A yellow card will instead be added to the player’s record for the incident.

Kipré will now be available for selection for Motherwell’s next match at home to Rangers on March 31.

The 21-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast, was initially ruled by referee Craig Thomson to have committed violent conduct in a clash with Scott Brown in Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

The test for violent conduct, according to the laws of the game, is that a player “must either use or attempt to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.”

The judicial panel ruled that Kipré’s actions did not use excessive force or brutality against his opponent.

“We are pleased that the panel ruled in Cédric’s favour,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the decision. “It is a sensible outcome, something that all parties agree with.

“Cédric is now available for our upcoming games, which are hugely important as we try and reach the top six. We can now draw a line under things and move on.”

Cédric Kipré’s first reaction when he was shown a red card against Celtic was that he had let his team down.

Caught in an altercation with Scott Brown, the centre back was dismissed for violent conduct, a decision that Motherwell have appealed and which will be heard by a judicial panel on Thursday.

Once he had made his way to the dressing room at Fir Park, the youngster’s initial emotion was anger. Anger that he had made life more difficult for his team mates.

“When I got the red card I thought ‘I’ve let everyone down. Maybe they are going to lose now because 10 v 11 is harder,'” he said.

“But they worked really hard and played really well, so I can only be proud of them. All of them.

“I tried to win the ball. I then fell down and I wanted to stand up, but he pushed me away. My first reaction to try and push him as well but with my foot.”

Pending the outcome of the appeal, Kipré could potentially miss upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures with Rangers and Aberdeen, as the Steelmen push to land a top six spot.

Regardless of what happens, the 21-year-old says he will use the incident as part of his education and development.

“I don’t think I did a bad thing,” he added. “I just wanted to stand up and keep playing. But it happens.

“Next time I won’t react. That’s what people are telling me to do. I won’t react next time.

“I would miss two games. Two very important games. So hopefully we win it and I can be back for the games and help the team.”

Cédric Kipré has been called up to the Ivory Coast squad for their forthcoming matches against Togo and Moldova.

Although born in Paris, 21-year old Kipré qualifies for Les Éléphants through both his mother and father, who were born in the Ivory Coast.

The former PSG and Leicester defender has been sensational in claret and amber since his arrival in the summer, playing 40 matches in Scotland to date.

Kipré will join the likes of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie in Kamara Ibrahim’s squad.

A late addition to the squad, the centre back is also in contention for an appearance with the squad’s Under 23s, who are taking part in the same training camp in France and will play games against Togo and club side Beauvais.

Speaking of his first call-up to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Kipré said: “Obviously I am very proud.

“I heard a few months ago of the possibility. Then a few days ago, I met Kolo Toure and he told me he would call me soon, and then he called me yesterday.

“I feel I’ve made my parents proud. My mum called me last night and was really, really happy. I will play for Ivory Coast for my parents because both of them are from there, so obviously they are very proud.

“Last year I wasn’t playing professional football. This year, I am playing every game, so it is a bit of a new world for me.”

Tickets for Motherwell’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi final with Aberdeen will go on sale on Monday, March 26.

Season ticket holders and Well Society members will be entitled to purchase first on an exclusive basis. Each individual can buy up to five tickets each.

The ticket office and Chapman office at Fir Park will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm for ticket sales. It will also be open from 10am until kick off, and for one hour after, at the match with Rangers on Saturday, March 31.

A public sale will start on Monday, April 2. The ticket office will be open on this day from 9am to 1pm. It will be open from 9am to 5pm the rest of the week and will also be open until kick off ahead of the match with Aberdeen on Tuesday, April 3.

The match at Hampden Park will be played on Saturday, April 14. Kick off is at 12.15pm.

Ticket information for the match is as follows:

William Hill South Stand and North Stand

£30 Adult / £15 Concessions

East Stand

£20 Adult / £10 Concessions

Concessions are regarded as those aged under 16 and those aged 65 and over.

Additional information

Telephone bookings will be taken. A £1 admin charge will be applied per telephone booking.

Delivery is available for any fan who cannot collect from us and who is not local. Tickets will be sent recorded delivery but the decision to have tickets posted is at the supporter’s risk and reprints will not be available. A £2.50 admin/postage charge will be added to each ticket, capped at £10.

Our signing section will be in areas F2 and F3 in the east stand.

Any fan requiring ambulant or wheelchair tickets should contact Brian Davidson on 07428225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com. .

Getting to Hampden

The club are operating a bus from the Cooper Bar on the day of the game. The bar will be open before departure for food and drink.

The bus, which will take supporters to and from Hampden Park, will cost £8. Supporters can buy by calling 01698 333333 or visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

Semi final hospitality

Come and enjoy the day in style with our pre and post-match hospitality here at Fir Park.

For just £80, you can get:

• Your match ticket
• Hot breakfast roll
• Match programme
• Official bus to and from Hampden Park
• Pay bar facility at Fir Park
• Hot buffet served at Fir Park on your return

You can buy online or call to book on 01698 333333.

Motherwell Football Club have lodged an appeal against the red card shown to Cédric Kipré in Sunday’s fixture with Celtic.

The French defender was dismissed for violent conduct by referee Craig Thomson in the 41st minute of the Ladbrokes Premiership match.

The club believes this is a case of wrongful dismissal and, having submitted a Player Reference to the Scottish FA on behalf of the player, the matter will now go to a fast track tribunal.

The principal hearing will take place on Thursday, 22 March 2018.

Highlights from Fir Park as 10-man Motherwell draw 0-0 with league leaders Celtic.

Richard Tait, Curtis Main and Allan Campbell reflect on a hard-fought point against Celtic after going down to 10 men.

A proud Stephen Robinson hailed his determined players as they picked up a hard-fought point against Celtic.

Despite going down ten men in the first half, the spirited Steelmen held on for nearly an hour against the league leaders.

And the Northern Irishman couldn’t single anyone out as he reflected on the game at full time.

[pullquote]I’m really, really proud of them. To a man they did everything we asked of them against a very good team.[/pullquote]

“In the first half we took the game to them. A lot of teams sit back and wait to be beat by Celtic but we took the game to them and I really felt we could have got three points today.”

He added: “The boys dug in against a very good team and we asked them to play a certain way. Let’s be honest, we weren’t much of an attacking threat in the second half, but that was dictated to by a decision.

“It’s difficult to pick any individual out. Richard Tait and Allan Campbell were absolutely superb, so was everyone on the pitch, but I just think their energy, work-rate and desire to stay in the game was inspiring at times.”

Phil McGhee at Fir Park

Ten-man Motherwell picked up a hard-fought point against league leaders Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership. 

Despite Cédric Kipré being sent off before half time, the Fir Parkers held on for nearly an hour on a bitterly cold afternoon at Fir Park.

Stephen Robinson made two changes to his side following last weekends defeat against Hamilton, with Ryan Bowman and Elliott Frear coming in to the team in place of the injured duo of Craig Tanner and Andy Rose.

And his side started the match firmly on the front foot, with a long range effort from Chris Cadden testing Scott Bain in the Celtic goal after just 12 minutes.

Within a minute later, Frear’s pinpoint cross found the head of Main six yards from goal, whose powered header was matched by a terrific stop from the keeper.

Then, before the 20th minute, Main turned provider when he chested down for Bowman to send a volley on target, which was a little too central and was gathered by Bain.

Celtic created a couple of opportunities, with Tom Rogic proving difficult to handle in the final third. The Aussie went close from the edge of the area when he curled an effort narrowly past the post.

Stephen Robinson’s side continued to create the better chances in the first half though, and Main nearly thundered a wonderful free kick home from over 25-yards, but Bain got down well to turn it wide of the mark.

But things changed drastically for on-top ‘Well when Craig Thomson flashed his fifth red card of the season, all of which have been shown for a player in claret and amber.

Sliding in on Kipré, Celtic skipper Scott Brown had a small altercation off the ball which was deemed a red card offence.

As expected, that decision drastically swayed the momentum of the match for the second half as Brendan Rodgers side went on to control the remainder of the game.

But that only brought out a battling, determined performance from the home side.

Trevor Carson produced a couple of wonderful stops, and Richard Tait’s stunning last ditch tackle denied substitute Scott Sinclair a certain goal as he raced through one-on-one with ‘Well’s Northern Irish stopper.

In the dying seconds, a downward header from Moussa Dembele forced a stunning save from Carson, who tipped the effort over the bar as a spirited ‘Well held on for a more than deserved point.

As the ball looped high off the head of Christophe Berra, it looked set for Harry Cochrane to hook the ball clear from danger, almost certainly resulting in a Scottish Cup quarter final replay between Hearts and Motherwell.

But Carl McHugh burst forward to control the ball on his chest ahead of the young Jambo’s midfielder, before unleashing one of the most memorable strikes seen at Fir Park in a decade.

On his apparently weaker right foot, Motherwell’s captain thundered an unstoppable volley in to the top corner from 25-yards to send the Steelmen back to Hampden.

It is somewhat fitting that the midfielder scored the goal responsible for securing another semi final, given that he will be suspended for that very fixture on April 14.

For Carl, as always, it isn’t about him.

“It was a special goal, one that will live with me forever, but all that matters is the team,” he said.

[pullquote]Sure it’s frustrating that I won’t be able to play in the semi’s, but the lads will go out there and give it their all like they do every week.[/pullquote]

He added: “But to be honest, I’m not thinking that far ahead, because we have some huge games coming up, starting today.

“While we’ve spoke about the Hearts game and the goal in this interview, that’s long gone in our minds now. We just have to be focused on the league and on picking up as many points as possible because we still have a lot to play for.”

With Celtic set for Fir Park this afternoon, Motherwell’s number eight has his sight’s set on three important points.

“Celtic have proved for a number of years now that they’re the best team in the country,” the midfielder said. “We’ll need to be at our very best if we hope to get a result.

“But we’re here at home, where we’ve played well this season. It’s been something we’ve aimed to do; make Fir Park a hard place to come. I think that’s been the cornerstone of what success we’ve had this year.

[pullquote]We’ve had a lot of good results here and we’re going to have to continue to do that if we want to finish the season strongly.[/pullquote]

He added: “We put in a really good performance the last time Celtic came here, and we were unlucky not to get more than just a point from the game.

“But we know how hard a game it will be this afternoon so we need to be sure we’re at our best from the first whistle.”

In his second season with the club, and his first with the armband, Carl allows himself to reflect fondly on what has been a season of highs for the club so far.

“I don’t think for a second that anyone in the dressing room would have been surprised if you told them we’d make it to a final, be challenging for the top six and be in the last four of the Scottish Cup,” the Irishman admitted.

“Sure, it may have surprised the media, but for us as a group, we have high standards and huge determination.”

That determination is something that has been ever-present in the dressing room this term.

And following a disappointing defeat in last weekend’s Lanarkshire derby, the skipper knows him and his teammates will need to show that in abundance this afternoon.

He said: “The defeat to Hamilton was a sore one to take, it’s never nice losing a derby match but I just felt we let ourselves down in our overall performance.

[pullquote]We didn’t do enough on the day and ultimately paid for our mistakes, so we’ll need to be sure to be at it today so that we can bounce back.[/pullquote]

“We’re big enough to admit that and take it on the chin. To be honest, it’s not just about today, if we can use that to bounce back for the next four hugely important games then it’ll help push us on for a strong end to the season.”

And ahead of today’s clash with Brendan Rodgers side, the Steelmen have been focused in their preparations in training.

“We were gutted after the game last weekend,” Carl admitted. “But the boys always bounce back, we don’t expect anything different.

“We’ve done that when we’ve needed to most this season, we don’t sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. If you do that, you won’t get very far in football!

“But training’s been very good this week, we’ve been working hard to ensure we go in with a game plan to get a result today.”

Those preparations play a big role for the team, Carl reveals.

“We work really, really hard on the training pitch and we have a real togetherness. I think when you go in to games with that sort of preparation and attitude you go in with a bit more confidence.

“We all know our jobs, we all know exactly what we’re doing on the pitch and I think when you can safely feel like the man next to you is just as prepared as you are, it ultimately makes you a better team.”