Clarke keen to see reaction from SFA after Gerrard’s Collum swipe
KILMARNOCK manager Steve Clarke has effectively dared the SFA to take action against Rangers following the comments by their manager, Steven Gerrard, and the club concerning the performance of referee Willie Collum in their 2-0 win over St Mirren in Paisley last weekend.
Gerrard claimed that the official’s decision to issue a second caution to winger Daniel Candeias following an altercation with home defender Anton Ferdinand was “embarrassing” while an official statement from the club on Thursday – in the wake of a failed appeal against the yellow card which means Candeias misses tomorrow’s match against Motherwell at Ibrox – ramped up the criticism.
Clarke was given a two-match touchline ban and Kilmarnock were fined £1,000 (both suspended until the end of this campaign) when the manager argued that Mr Collum was wrong to show a straight red card to midfielder Gary Dicker during Hearts’ 1-0 victory at Rugby Park in August and for subsequently claiming that the club’s appeal against the dismissal had been prejudged because the referee had been allocated the Celtic v Rangers derby in the same week as the hearing Kilmarnock face Hearts again at Tynecastle today but Clarke did not spend time reflecting on that earlier defeat.
“To lose the game [against Hearts] was disappointing because I didn’t think we deserved to lose it but I think I’ve already spoken enough about that,” he said.
“It may be better to move on, although other clubs don’t seem willing to let things lie. I await with interest the SFA’s response to Rangers’ statement.
“I am still holding my breath waiting on them replying to Kilmarnock for their query about Mr Fleming’s statement [John Fleming, the SFA’s head of refereeing, had told Dundee supporters Killie had accepted their winger, Jordan Jones, had dived to win a penalty against them].
“We’ve had nothing back from them, so maybe the letter has got lost in the post. It would have been nice to have had a reply by now.
“They are quick to get to you when something is wrong, which is why they have the fast-track system.”