Rivals face double Celtic blow from SFA

Hibs could be first footing Celtic without Ryan Porteous and Paul McGinn. 

Bringing forward the winter break means that Hibs will be visiting Celtic Park on January 17 with Shaun Maloney in charge of the Edinburgh side. 

Less than a month after the League Cup Final there is bound to be an edge to the clash but Maloney is likely to go into the match without two of the regular back four that played under Jack Ross. 

Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous has been charged by the Scottish FA following his clash with Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez.

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) December 24, 2021

Paul McGinn has been charged by the SFA following his comments after Sunday’s League Cup final defeat.

The Hibs defender accused John Beaton of ‘inept’ refereeing after claiming Celtic’s winner in the League Cup final shouldn’t have been allowed. pic.twitter.com/QsdD8wLYjv

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 21, 2021

McGinn faces an SFA hearing on Thursday January 13 after claiming that cup final referee John Beaton was inept. That claim was made not over McGinn’s attack on Greg Taylor or the referee’s failure to book Lewis Stevenson in the second minute but for a late penalty claim by Hibs. 

Strangely Porteous will face the SFA on Thursday December 30 after escaping justice in the midweek win over Aberdeen. 

Only the SFA will be able to explain the reason why it takes two weeks longer to charge McGinn than Porteous but if any suspension is applied it will be served away to Celtic on January 17.