THE SFA today revealed the evidence which led to Aleksandar Tonev’s seven-game ban for racially abusing Dons defender Shay Logan.

Much of the debate around this case has been about proof.Celtic backed their player as Tonev denied the allegations, while the Dons backed Logan’s version of events.Unlike a court hearing, SFA disciplinary hearings are decided on the “balance of probabilities”, rather than “beyond reasonable doubt”.In attendance at the appeals hearing on October 30 was SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan, Tonev’s solicitor Liam O’Donnell, Celtic secretary Michael Nicholson and Hoops assistant boss John Collins.They were assisted by a Bulgarian interpreter, but it was noted that Tonev spoke good English.Here is the evidence that they heard:Bobby Madden’s statement Tonev claims he only said “get your hands off me” when Logan had taken hold of him.He denied calling him a black ****. Tonev claims he did not know that the word **** meant and denied ever saying it. He also stated that there was no further discussion between the players on the pitch.He said the first time he was aware of the phrase being used was when John Collins spoke to him.He told the panel that he had played football with many black players and would not use language of this kind.He accepted that there was no place for racism in football.DecisionThe panel believed that Logan’s account was, on the balance of probabilities, more probable than that of Tonev’s and that the circumstantial evidence supported Logan’s version as being true and reliable.Logan was said to have given his evidence in a clear fashion and he had no motive to lie.They also found the video footage clearly showed Logan interact with, Reynolds, McInnes and Madden and his demeanour supported his credibility.The panel stated: “Accordingly, and taking into account the largely uncontested evidence of the other witnesses and video evidence, we found on the balance of probabilities that Mr Tonev did say to Mr Logan ‘Get your hands off me you black ****’.“In light of the concessions made by parties, we also found that this amounted to the use of offensive, insulting and abusive language of a racist nature in breach of rule 202.”BanTonev will continue his seven-game ban, of which he has served one match.