Gerrard Old Firm decision delayed due to technical difficulties at SFA hearing
RANGERS will learn on Monday whether their manager Steven Gerrard will be banned from the technical area for the game against Celtic a week today after an SFA disciplinary hearing was abandoned due to technical difficulties yesterday.
Gerrard was issued with a notice of complaint by the compliance officer for remarks he made after his side had played Dundee United in a Premiership game at Ibrox last month.
He was unhappy that Ryan Edwards of United had gone unpunished by referee Kevin Clancy for a challenge on Alfredo Morelos which led to the striker suffering an injury and being carried off. However, the hearing yesterday, which was being conducted by Zoom due to the coronavirus pandemic, was abandoned due to technical difficulties and will be reconvened on Monday.
The former Liverpool and England captain was charged with breaching disciplinary rule 72 – which forbids a manager alleging a match official had been guilty of bias.
Speaking after the United game he said: “He’s a lucky boy that it’s only a gash. I was impressed with United today so I don’t want to make headlines
and say a kid should have got this or that. I don’t want to be that type of manager.
“But what I would say is that I’d be very interested to see what the decision would have been from the officials had the shoe been on the other foot and Alfredo had made that tackle.”
If Gerrard is found guilty he faces being banned from the dugout for Rangers’ first match of the campaign against Celtic at Parkhead next Saturday. His side are currently a point ahead of their city rivals having played a game more.
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that the game between Celtic
and Rangers will go ahead despite fears about crowds gathering for the occasion.
“There are no plans as far as I’m aware to cancel the Old Firm match,” she said. “We have to have a degree of trust in people – pubs and house parties aren’t allowed for a reason.
“It’s horrible to not be able to go and do what you love doing – from visiting our families to football. We all have to make sacrifices, but don’t forget why. Government can do so much, but we all have to take some responsibility in this. So don’t go to crowded places and don’t have a house party. Don’t lose sight of why all of this is necessary.”