Glass calls for SFA to change the rules
STEPHEN GLASS believes the Scottish FA should look at a rule change where yellow cards leading to a sending off can be overturned.
It comes after Aberdeen midfielder Funso Ojo was shown red by referee Bobby Madden at Dundee United last week after a supporter pushed the player while walking to retrieve the ball.
The fan has had his season ticket cancelled by the Tannadice club, but the player received a second yellow card for the incident, meaning under the current guidelines the call could not be overturned by the SFA.
Ojo will be missing for this weekend’s trip to Celtic as a result. Glass says the full playing squad has rallied behind the 30-year-old in the wake of the incident.
“We know Funso is suspended. He’s good. He’s been training normally. It’s strange to talk about a player who we know isn’t going to play,” Glass said.
“He shouldn’t have got sent off and he’s and raring to go. So he’s frustrated at what’s went on but he knows that he’s got to sit out this week and it’s out with his control. But as a guy he seems okay. We are just making sure that we are here for him more than anything.
“I spoke to him on the bus on the back north after the game telling him how much we are all here to support him.
“He knows we are supportive and that we are here if he needs us. But he seems himself which is great. It’s commendable how he’s been through the whole thing.
“If that happens [a rule change] it’s probably a question of when it happens.
“People might complain that it’s happened to them before and I think the SFA are probably wary of that. If they change it now someone might have suffered before and they’ll point to the rule change. When it’s for the greater good, though, common sense should prevail – like it should have done in this situation.”
The Dons travel to face Celtic on Sunday, looking to make up for a 2-1 defeat at Pittodrie earlier this season.
And Glass insists his side are in a good mood ahead of the trip to Glasgow. He said: “We’re looking forward to the game. Any time you go to play in a big atmosphere it’s something to look forward to.
“We’re going to add Batesy [David Bates] and Fergie [Lewis Ferguson] back into the group so we’ve got a good group of players that are capable of going to Celtic Park [and getting something]. It’s a challenge we are looking forward to.”
Meanwhile, Glass revealed neither Newcastle or Brighton have raised any issues regarding a lack of game-time for Matty Longstaff or Teddy Jenks respectively.
He said the challenge for all young players in the squad is to earn the right to play and stay in his starting XI.
Glass said: “We constantly speak to their loan managers. There’s a recognition that these are young players coming to compete in a decent team here. All right, we’ve not had the results we should be getting but there’s a tough group of professionals to break your way in to here.
“It’s part of learning. It’s no different from our own young players here – they need to earn the right to play in the team.
“If they do that, they’ll play. If they’ve earned the right to stay in it, they’ll stay.
“Loan moves are a learning curve for young professionals. Some of them work out, some don’t. Some take a little bit longer than others to work.
“There’s a constant discussion. The clubs are happy with where those players are, what they’re getting and the fact they have to compete to earn time on the park.”