RYAN CHRISTIE’S Cup Final dream could be shattered.
The Celtic star suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone and eye socket in the Hampden semi-final victory over Aberdeen.
He was taken to hospital after a sickening clash that saw Dom Ball sent off.
But the Dons were raging with the red card — one of two dished out to them in a Hampden horror show.
Stand-in skipper Scott McKenna claimed it was harsh because Celts defender Dedryck Boyata’s escaped punishment for a similar challenge on Gary Mackay-Steven in December’s Betfred Cup Final.
The Scotland star insisted the red card was the turning point in the game.
And he claimed it was further evidence his side haven’t been treated fairly in cup clashes with Celts.
He said: “I’ve not had a chance to watch the incident back yet and I was a bit of a distance away.
“But it was a sickening injury. You never want to see someone get an injury like that on the pitch.
“Earlier this season, Gary Mackay-Steven got knocked out after a head injury from Dedryck Boyata and there was no action given against Boyata.
“Christie gets his head knocked in this match and our player gets the booking.
“The way the two of them were handled, it could have been a bit different. Boyata stayed on the pitch, but we lost a man.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes — who was sent to the stand along with No2 Tony Docherty — claimed it was an accidental collision that didn’t merit a second yellow.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon accepted there was no intent on Ball’s part to injure Christie but insisted ref Craig Thomson got the decision right.
The Hoops cashed in on the extra man to win with goals from James Forrest, Odsonne Edouard and Tom Rogic.
Aberdeen finished with nine men after Lewis Ferguson was sent packing for a wild two-footed lunge on Rogic.
McInnes said: “The game totally changed on the sending-off. Of course, I’m the Aberdeen manager, but I thought it was extremely harsh.
“At his first yellow, I think it was one of the officials who said it was stopping a promising attack.
“Jonny Hayes had kicked the ball out of the pitch. It is a foul, 100 per cent, but I didn’t think it was a yellow card. It was Dom’s first foul.
“The second one is difficult. We’ve all played the game and when the ball bounces both players have got to go for it and it’s ended up with young Ryan having a bad injury.
“I think both players have to be committed to it. I don’t think there is an elbow or a flailing arm. It was late and I think it was totally accidental.
“I need to remind people about when Boyata took Gary Mackay-Steven right out in the cup final not so long ago.
“That was deemed a reckless challenge. It was late and Gary ends up in hospital.
“It wasn’t a penalty kick, it wasn’t a yellow card offence, and not that we were probably looking for it because we can see how these things happen.
Hoops boss Lennon, though, believes it was the right call.
He said: “There will be a lot of talk about the sending-off, but for me it was a second yellow. It’s a real bad one.
“I don’t think there is any real intent from Dominic to hurt Ryan, but he is late in the challenge.
"Unfortunately we have lost Ryan to what could be a very bad injury.
“He was conscious at half-time. We are not sure if it’s a broken eye socket or fractured cheekbone.
“According to the medical team, we are hopeful he will be fit for the final when it comes around.