Gerrard’s misgivings over Covid processes

RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard claims he shares John Kennedy’s frustration over the process of punishing Covid-19 breaches and “feels his pain” that three of his players are able to face his Celtic side.

Kennedy spoke out on Thursday over the time the Scottish Football Association has taken to deal with breaches from five Rangers players, including first-team members Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu.

Patterson faced Celtic last month and, with James Tavernier having only an “outside chance” of being fit for their Scottish Cup meeting on April 17, the 19-year-old right-back could again line up against the Hoops after Rangers’ appeal against immediate four-game bans was set for three days later.

The five players, including loaned-out pair Brian Kinnear and Dapo Mebude, were given police fines for attending a gathering during lockdown on February 14, and SFA bans were announced on March 30.

Gerrard said: “We want all our players fit and available, especially when you are in my shoes with all the challenges that are thrown in front of us.

“Obviously we have just had news the hearing is when it is, which means the Covid lads will be available for the next couple.

“Of course that’s a boost, we didn’t expect that, but it is what it is, those decisions are out of our control, we don’t decide when those hearings are.

“We wait for contact and the SFA have given us a date and we have accepted the date, so we will deal with that when it comes.”

Gerrard feels his players’ punishments – they also have a further two games suspended – are too harsh when compared with breaches by Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli, and eight Aberdeen players who went out for dinner early in the season.

“I agree with John in terms of the inconsistencies from the SFA because we have been speaking about that for some time now,” said Gerrard, who lost Jordan Jones and George Edmondson for seven games after they had an illegal gathering of four people.

“When you are talking about punishment, Bolingoli left the country of his own will and then came back and trained amongst his peers and then went and played at Kilmarnock and put other people’s health in jeopardy. He was given a five-game ban and three were suspended.

“And the Aberdeen guys were given three games and they were all suspended. There were obviously positive Covid tests on the back of that.

“I agree with John in terms of the inconsistencies and to be honest I would probably be a bit frustrated as well with him if good players were available to play against his team next week as well. So I feel his pain.”