The SFA have taken out a £5m loan against future UEFA payments, raising further questions on why resources were wasted to charge Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.
At a time when Scottish football clubs are allegedly facing financial Armageddon, Rangers have every right to question why the SFA took Steven Gerrard to trial.
These trials cost money for everyone involved and given the nature of the comments were so nominal Rangers continue to use the word “bemused” regarding the case.
The Ibrox gaffer was charged by the footballing authorities for comments he made about a robust challenge on striker Alfredo Morelos in the 4-0 win over Dundee United.
Suggesting things might’ve been different had it been Morelos doing the challenging, the Gers boss was hauled up in front of an SFA dock, at the expense of the powers that be.
Here’s what Gerrard said:
“I don’t want to make any headlines and say the kid should have got this or should have got that. I don’t want to be that type of manager.
“But what I would say is I’d be very interested to see what the decision would have been from the officials if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Alfredo who’s made that tackle.”
Rangers had originally said they were “bemused” at the decision to charge the Ibrox gaffer and called into question the suitability of court action during the pandemic.
“Given the wide range of incidents in Scottish football so far this season, we are perplexed that this issue has been raised and cited for complaint,” said Rangers.
“Whilst our national sport faces an unprecedented crisis, it is baffling that resources are used to charge Rangers’ Manager based on a flawed and inaccurate interpretation of Steven Gerrard’s remarks.”
This is a sentiment which was reiterated after the case against the Ibrox gaffer was found not proven by an SFA disciplinary panel.
“Rangers are unsurprised at the outcome of today’s hearing but remain bemused that the charge was brought against our manager Steven Gerrard in the first place,” said Rangers.
“We now look forward to focussing on more important matters on the field of play.”
Rangers fans have already voiced their support for the club and Gerrard in the wake of the decision.
The decision to raise a case against Steven Gerrard will also come under greater scrutiny amid the revelation that the SFA have borrowed £5m in the middle of the pandemic.
According to Price of Football’s Kieran Maguire the Scottish footballing authorities have taken out a £5m loan from Santander secured against future money due from UEFA.
With funds clearly tight and more important matters at hand, is charging Steven Gerrard over nothing comments really a suitable spend of cash and resources from the SFA?
