Gers boss says refs need more backing

Steven Gerrard has warned there will soon be no point having referees if the Scottish Football Association continues to dish out retrospective bans for incidents missed by match officials.

The Rangers manager has again hit out at the controversial Hampden compliance system after seeing Kemar Roofe suspended for two games by a disciplinary panel for his challenge on St Johnstone’s Murray Davidson.

Roofe was charged after it was ruled that referee David Munro had not seen the incident “in its entirety” during last week’s 1-0 win over Saints

Gers appealed, arguing the official must have had a reasonable view given he booked the Light Blues striker.

But that challenge failed, leaving Gerrard frustrated again just days after he called for greater consistency in the wake of seeing Alfredo Morelos punished for a stamp on Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous while Leith defender Darren Mcgregor was let off for a similar offence against Glen Kamara in the same game.

Now the Ibrox boss has accused the SFA of “disrespecting” its own officials by re-refereeing incidents not spotted at the time.

“In the report we got there was certain wording and certain language that said the incident hadn’t been seen or wasn’t seen clearly,” he said. “There was a yellow card given.

“You can’t days or hours after a game change your mind or have three guys come and re-referee the game. If that’s the case, what’s the point in us having referees?

“Why not just have no referees and we’ll just make all the decisions days and hours after the game? It’s not right.”

Gerrard, who will now be without both Roofe and Morelos for Saturday’s Ibrox clash with Kilmarnock, believes the introduction of VAR, goal-line technology and full-time officials are the answer to the SFA’S crisis-hit disciplinary procedures.

He said: “We’ve got to trust the referees. They are human beings. We’ve got to give them support in whatever way we can.

“The situation won’t change unless we all collectively support the SFA and the officials in getting them the necessary support to be better and more consistent.

“Full-time referees is one area where the level would get better up here.

“I think the guys do a terrific job considering they have other jobs.

“I must admit that I don’t know where the SFA are at in terms of VAR, goal-line technology and the stuff that would be a big support for the officials up here.

“We have to find a better level of consistency.”