This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Fifa’s referee chief Jim Boyce has claimed a retrospective one-match ban imposed by the Scottish FA for a handball by the Inverness defender Josh Meekings is wrong and sets a dangerous precedent.

Meekings’ appeal against the ban, which would see him miss the Scottish Cup final, will be held on Thursday. The ban was imposed following a controversial handball incident during the 3-2 semi-final win over Celtic and if upheld will see him miss the final against Falkirk on 30 May.

Boyce, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity and not on Fifa’s behalf, said: “I think this decision was wrong and sets a very dangerous precedent.

“Handball incidents happen in just about every single match and it is the referee and his officials who should decide if it is intentional.”

Boyce, Britain’s Fifa vice-president and chairman of Fifa’s referees committee, said: “It is a completely different situation from disciplinary incidents such as violent conduct - which of course should be dealt with retrospectively.

“In this game, there was a referee, an assistant referee, one of those officials behind the goal-line and none of them made any decision. Speaking personally and not on behalf of Fifa, I cannot believe that they have suspended a player for a handball.”

Celtic wrote to the SFA asking why referee Steven McLean did not award a penalty and dismiss Meekings after he blocked a goal-bound header.