Motherwell striker Michael Higdon has been banned for one match for making an offensive gesture during his side's game with Dundee United.

Higdon went before a Scottish FA fast track tribunal on Thursday to argue his case, having been issued with a Notice of Complaint by the organisation's compliance officer earlier in the week.

At the hearing, the Notice was upheld and a one-game ban applies to Motherwell's next Scottish Premier League fixture, which is against St Johnstone on Saturday.

Well boss Stuart McCall had stated his hope no action would be taken against Higdon, insisting the gesture made was not offensive.

"It was highlighted in the TV programme and a couple of media guys have mentioned it,” said McCall.

"But there is no way in a million years it's comparable to what's gone on beforehand. I know totally 100% that it wasn't aimed at any supporters.

"If you actually watch it, it's a half-hearted gesture, it's not with any malice, there's no swearing coming out of his mouth, he's not angry with anyone.

"I think it was a non-entity and it's not even worth talking about if I'm being honest."

Higdon's ban is for a breach of disciplinary rule 200, which states: "No player shall commit offences in the Schedule of Offences in Annex C. (Such offences may be dealt with by a Fast Track Tribunal following a Compliance Officer Reference under the Judicial Panel Protocol.)"

The suspension for a breach of the rule by making an offensive gesture is an automatic one-match suspension. If a player is guilty of another sending-off offence within the same season, an additional one-game ban is applied.