Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has been served a notice of complaint by the SFA compliance officer for a clash with Dundee United defender Mark Connolly in the club’s recent 2-1 win at Tannadice.
Morelos, 24, appeared to lunge into Connolly 12 minutes in the match in an incident referee Steven McLean deemed worthy of a yellow card.
Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has been served with a notice of complaint despite receiving a yellow card for the incident (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Replays showed Morelos thrusting his forearm towards Connolly, with several voices in the media calling for the player to see retrospective punishment.
RONALDO NEEDS TO STOP WHINING.
They have now got their wish with the player set to be hauled up in front of an SFA disciplinary panel this coming Thursday standing accused of “violent conduct” [Sky Sports].
Despite the fact Morelos was carded for the incident in the match compliance officer Clare Whyte has deemed the situation to be “exceptional in nature” which means further action can be taken.
Rangers fans have naturally reacted in anger with the incident magnified by the Scottish press when other similar – and more serious incidents – are ignored:
When I believe that there is a semblance of parity between the way Morelos is treated by the governing bodies, his fellow professionals, other clubs, the media and everyone else in the Scottish game? Then I will get to analyzing whether or not he is stupid or not, mate.
— Alfredo’55 Wee Face. (@rossejhendry) December 15, 2020
Morelos could easily have been red carded but the Dundee United player who left a an imprint of his studds in Morelos' leg escaped a hearing. Pull the other one if you're trying to tell me Morelos' flailing arm endangered an opponent or was more serious than that.
— Iain (@CemetryGates89) December 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/minicoo_master/status/1338873203280785411
waiting for a ban on this 🙂 pic.twitter.com/8Gkorv7H9v
— roffe (@ffs_kylecapalot) December 15, 2020
Thought that we weren’t re-refereeing games. Wasn’t it dealt with at the time with a yellow card? End of surely?
Gunning for Alfredo at any chance they get. But not the guy who left with him with a hole in his leg. 🤷🏼♂️
— William 🇳🇱 (@_William72) December 15, 2020
Shock 😂😂 wonder when scott browns will be announced for his stamp on ohalloran
— Glenzo (@glenzo92) December 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/Cjnovo992/status/1338881863805526016
Trial by tv strikes again. Seems to be a regular occurrence when it comes to Morelos.
— fully (@fullywully) December 15, 2020
As an aside we wouldn’t be raging at the farce of a system if Morelos hadn’t acted like an idiot anyway
— Mr M (@MBS1872) December 15, 2020
Don’t think any Rangers fan will say anything other than it was a red card for Morelos but all we want is consistency with the retrospective stuff.
— Davie (@dave_n84) December 15, 2020
Morelos is guilty. Guilty of not being Scott Brown.
— Billy ‘Opposition’ King (@Redfive05ive) December 15, 2020
What happened to ‘we don’t want to re-referee games’? Ref saw it, booked him, end of surely?
— Heart & Hand Podcast (@ibroxrocks) December 15, 2020
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard appeared to play down the incident in the aftermath of the win and claimed it was only deserving of a yellow card.
The Ibrox gaffer defender his striker in the aftermath of the incident and claimed that “it was a foul and a yellow card and it’s been dealt with.”