Rangers have battered back at the SFA for fines received for incidents at the tail end of 2019, signalling their intention to take the fight to Hampden over the decisions.
Rangers are set to be fined the sum total of £15k from the SFA for incidents involving coach Tom Culshaw at Hibs and Michael Beale at Celtic Park.
At Hibs, Culshaw saw red for reacting to the questionable response of the Hibs bench to a red card shown to defender Ryan Porteous for a horrific lunge to Rangers’ Borna Barisic.
At Celtic Park, Michael Beale was sent off for an altercation with the so-called “bravest man in football” John Kennedy as Alfredo Morelos made his way from the field following a red card.
Incredibly, both Alfredo and Ryan Kent were named in the charges for their celebrations/gesturing in the match in what is widely considered a desperate attempt to appease a hurting Celtic support.
That’s despite Alfredo Morelos reportedly receiving a third yellow card after the match [SFA].
The SFA have fined Rangers for failing to act in an “orderly fashion”, with £10k to be payable immediately with £5k due at the end of the season [BBC Sport].
Rangers claimed they were “astounded” by the charges at the time [Rangers] and managing director Stewart Robertson has followed that up by signalling the club’s intention to appeal to the fines.
“We’re extremely disappointed. We’re going to appeal it,” said Robertson [RangersTV].
“We have been disappointed for quite some time in the way that the disciplinary process is working. We’ve been quite vocal in that.
“There’s also been a lot of lobbying going on in the background for changes and it’s good to see other clubs are joining in that lobbying campaign at the moment.
“There will be more to come out on that in due course but we will be appealing the fine.
“We’re extremely disappointed in the fact it’s almost a double jeopardy. The player can be punished but the club can also be punished. That’s just not right.
“The basic rule that applies, or has been applied in this situation, we don’t feel is fair. There is no natural justice to that.
“But beyond that we feel there are still severe flaws within the judicial process and we are in active discussion with the SFA to address that.
“A lot of that will go on behind the scenes.
“I know the fans are maybe frustrated that they don’t always see what we are doing or hear what we are doing, but they can be assured that there is a lot of lobbying going on behind the scenes to change that.”
