Hibs' Sallinger Sent Off for Handling Outside Area in Dramatic Edinburgh Derby Defeat

Hibernian defender Luca Sallinger was sent off in the 22nd minute of Sunday's Edinburgh derby for deliberately handling the ball outside his penalty area, dramatically changing the course of the match against Hearts at Easter Road.

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The Austrian centre-back, who joined Hibs in January, was shown a straight red card by referee Nick Walsh after clearly handling the ball while attempting to prevent Hearts striker Boyle from racing through on goal. The decision prompted immediate protests from Hibs players, but replays confirmed Sallinger was at least two yards outside the 18-yard box.

The dismissal came moments after Boyle had given Hearts an early lead with a composed finish, leaving Hibs with an uphill battle. However, despite being reduced to ten men, the home side rallied magnificently in the second half.

Hibs manager David Gray acknowledged the sending off was correct but praised his team's response. "Luca knows he's made a mistake there, but the way the boys responded after going down to ten men was exceptional. We showed real character in difficult circumstances."

The match witnessed further controversy when, according to match reports, Hibs were denied a potential equaliser in the 67th minute, though the exact nature of the incident remains unclear from the available reports. Hearts held on for a hard-fought victory that moves them up the Scottish Premiership table.

Sallinger faces a minimum three-match ban for the red card, which could prove costly for Hibs as they battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot. The 24-year-old has been a key figure in Hibs' defence since his arrival from Austrian club Rheindorf Altach.

Hearts manager confirmed post-match that Boyle's early strike proved crucial given the subsequent momentum swings. The derby victory marks Hearts' third consecutive win against their Edinburgh rivals this season, extending their dominance in the fixture.