St Johnstone badboys Danny Swanson and Richard Foster look set to get off lightly in the absence of any video footage of their fight.
The battling team-mates are still facing a club investigation into the half-time rammy that saw both men sent off at Hamilton on Saturday.
But Record Sport understands it’s highly unlikely they will face being sacked by the club – or face additional punishment from the SFA’s Compliance Officer as there is no video to study.
The BBC’s television camera missed the incident and no amateur footage from the stands has been uncovered to give an accurate portrayal of precisely what happened in the melee.
That’s a huge let-off for the duo, as investigations by the SFA and the club’s bosses must rely on witness statements from players which is likely to culminate in a hazy mess of mixed recollections and uncertainty.
No one could expect to lose their job under the featherlight weight of a yes, buts and maybes.
So unless the suspended pair are caught out blatantly lying when they give personal accounts of what happened, don’t expect to see the club going anywhere near the legal mine field of sacking them for bringing the club into disrepute.
In an employment tribunal it would stand up about as long as a one-legged dog in a strong wind.
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Much more likely is a hefty fine of two weeks’ wages – plus the usual two-game ban administered by the SFA, possibly upgraded to three games if they judge the seriousness of the offence to merit additional punishment.
From the club’s perspective, as much as the players’, that would be a welcome relief for them to take their dumps and move on.
After all, do St Johnstone REALLY want to set a dangerous precedent by binning two of their best players for something that any player will tell you is not a rare occurrence within squads?
Sack Swanson and Foster now, then what happens if another Saint lamps an opponent when they face Hearts tomorrow? Squads across the country would dwindle if every hotheaded outburst was punished so severely.
And what if a player is desperate for a move to another club and realises there’s a much quicker way to work your ticket out than sulking and downing tools for six weeks? Just down a team-mate instead and you’re out the door.
So it was understandable that McDiarmid Park had an air of calm after the storm yesterday when the players reported for duty, already joking about the weekend.
And Wright, while still angry at the duo’s stupidity ultimately costing his team three points, reckons the flare-up could have a positive effect For want of a better expression, it could be the boot up the backside the team needs.
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Wright said: “It will galvanise us for the Hearts game. It’ll have a positive effect on my dressing-room, that’s what they’re like.
“You saw the performance we had with nine men in the second half. So if people think we’re going to fold, capitulate and the seams are bursting, good luck to them.
“As a squad we’ve already moved on and there’s no chance it’ll affect what we’re doing here. We’ve started the investigation so I’m limited in what I can say.
“We’re aware there is no footage of what happened but that doesn’t hinder a proper investigation. Once that’s concluded a decision will be made and we’ll draw a line under it when that happens.”
While peace broke out, Wright took a swipe at Hamilton’s Darian Mackinnon, who accused the Saints boss of deliberately bumping into him.
He said: “Darian’s comments are totally wrong. I don’t see how someone standing still in the technical area with their hands in their pockets can bump into anyone. I would have been defying the laws of physics.
“The match delegate saw it, he was the first person to speak to me after the game and he mentioned it because he knew what happened.
“Darian’s memory is going a wee bit because he seems to have forgotten he had to be pulled apart from Mikey Devlin earlier this season against Dundee. That was similar so sometimes you should be careful what you say.
“What he says happened with me definitely didn’t.”