A major Rangers boost has ruffled feathers at Parkhead, with Celtic interim manager John Kennedy criticising the SFA for a perceived lack of consistency.
Five Rangers players – Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Bongani Zungu, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear – were handed six-match bans (two suspended) by the SFA earlier this month.
However, the Gers challenged the decision and it was confirmed on Thursday that the appeal won’t take place until 20th April.
That ensures that as well as being eligible for last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie against Cove Rangers and Sunday’s Premiership clash against Hibernian, first-team players Patterson, Bassey and Zungu will be free to face Celtic on 17th April.
That has enraged Kennedy, who feels there’s a lack of consistency in the punishment process.
Hoops defender Boli Bolingoli was banned four days after breaching regulations earlier in the season, while the ‘Covid Five’ incident took place in mid-February.
“It’s not our situation but, looking from the outside, I don’t understand why there’s such a delay,” he said [Daily Record].
“Players played against us who probably should have been banned. It’s something I think should have been dealt with a hell of a lot quicker to remain consistent with all the other decisions that have happened.
“The SFA are the only ones who can come out and clarify why this decision has taken so long and exactly what they are thinking.”
Bassey and Zungu are unlikely to start the clash at Ibrox later this month, but the availability of Patterson constitutes a major boost for Rangers, given that skipper James Tavernier may not quite be ready to return to action following a knee injury.
Patterson replaced struggling makeshift full-back Leon Balogun for the final 34 minutes of a 1-1 Old Firm draw at Parkhead last month and impressed.
Meanwhile, a player the Gers are reportedly likely to sign this summer has taken to Instagram amid a dip in form.
