Inverness defender Josh Meekings is set to miss the Scottish Cup final after being offered a retrospective ban for handling Leigh Griffiths' goal-bound header.
Celtic and their fans were enraged by referee Steven McLean's failure to award a penalty against Meekings when he blocked the effort just before the interval with the Hoops leading 1-0.
Scottish Football Association compliance officer Tony McGlennan has now issued a "notice of complaint" to Meekings, whose transgression was missed by the six match officials on duty at Hampden on Sunday when Caley Thistle ultimately beat Celtic 3-2 after extra time.
Meekings has until 3 p.m. on Wednesday to respond to the charge with a hearing date set for Thursday if his club decide to contest the ban.
Caley Thistle immediately announced their intention to fight the suspension.
In a statement, the club said: "Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC can confirm that it has declined the fixed one-match suspension offer in relation to the notice of complaint issued to Josh Meekings following an alleged breach of disciplinary rule 200 at the ICTFC v Celtic game on Sunday, March 19 2015.
"The club intends to vigorously defend our player and is taking legal advice on the issue. We are extremely disappointed that this has arisen and the player himself is mentally shattered at the turn of events.
"Josh is keen to appear in person at the disciplinary hearing and we will most strongly support him by all means available."
Inverness are already missing the other half of their central defence after Gary Warren picked up his second booking of the competition against Celtic, which instantly ruled him out of the Hampden clash with Falkirk on May 30.
Meanwhile, John Collins insists the desire for "a simple answer" lay behind Celtic's decision to write to the Scottish FA about the officiating in the game.
The Scottish Premiership leaders released a statement on Monday saying they were "seeking an understanding" of the failure to penalise Meekings.
Ahead of the trip to Dundee on Wednesday night, Celtic assistant boss Collins said: "We want a simple answer. If you are looking for an answer you ask a question.
"Everyone knows it was a key moment in the game. It didn't go our way and we are just asking why.
"We have a massive support all over the world. The supporters are all asking the question so the club has probably asked on behalf of all the supporters around the world.
"The first thing I have to say is we congratulate Inverness and John Hughes, they have done a fantastic job and we wish them all the best in the final.
"We are just looking for an answer but trust me, we have moved on."
Griffiths said afterwards that referee McLean had told him assistant Alan Muir, stationed behind the goal line just yards away from the incident, had said he saw the ball hitting Meekings' face, an explanation that Collins would accept.
The former Celtic midfielder said: "If that is what he saw then that is an answer. You have an answer, fine, you move on.
"It would be nice to know [what was said at the time] but I reiterate: we have got to move on. We are not going to change the result. That's gone.''
Collins would also accept that none of the officials saw a handball.
"If that's what they say, of course we have got to accept that," he said, adding that "without a doubt" decisions balanced themselves out over the season.
When asked why Celtic had aired their grievance in public, Collins replied: "I don't know why the club has made it public but they have decided to do it so I have to back them and support them, don't I?
"Many clubs write letters and contact the FA for an answer -- we are not the only one. It was a key moment in a massive game in a massive season and if the correct decision was given then we would be in the cup final.
"That is why the question has been asked. It wasn't just any other game."
Collins also declared himself "100 percent" in favour of video evidence.
He said: "It helps the referee, and two wonderful words we have in football and we keep hearing them -- fair play. What makes it fairer than video evidence helping the referee and the correct decision being made? It keeps it clean, doesn't it?"