Gerrard and Lennon hit out at SFA over Roofe and Ajeti charges
Steven Gerrard and Neil Lennon took aim at the Scottish Football Association’s disciplinary process yesterday after both managers had players cited following midweek Premiership matches.
Rangers boss Gerrard criticised the fact Rangers had to wait two days to discover that striker Kemar Roofe has been handed a Notice of Complaint and potential two-game ban for his studs-up challenge on St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson.
His Celtic counterpart Lennon, meanwhile, was shocked to discover on Thursday that forward Albian Ajeti has been charged with simulation and also faces a two-match suspension following his team’s award of a penalty against Kilmarnock on Tuesday night.
Roofe faces a Hampden hearing on Tuesday to decide his fate - but he could yet miss tomorrow's trip to Hamilton if Rangers decide to accept the punishment early.
The former Leeds United and Anderlecht player was booked by referee David Munro during Rangers’ 1-0 win at Ibrox for a "reckless" tackle as he planted his studs into Davidson’s leg after mis-controlling the ball.
However, the incident has since been passed on to a three-man panel of former referees to review after Munro told Hampden officials that he did not see Roofe's challenge "in its entirety".
The retired officials unanimously decided the incident constituted "serious foul play" and should have resulted in a red card. Rangers have until Monday to decide if they will accept Roofe's ban or go before the disciplinary panel the following day.
Under the SFA'S fast-track procedures, the governing body had until 3pm yesterday to decide whether to charge Roofe, but Gerrard is unhappy his plans for the Accies fixture were thrown into chaos.
"I haven't had time [to consider if we will appeal] because the notice of complaint came through ten minutes ago, which is quite frustrating because we have had two sessions to prepare for Hamilton and he's been heavily involved in both sessions,” said Gerrard.
"In terms of having a think
and time to decide what we are going to do as a club, we will do that in due course.
"In terms of the tackle, I haven't really thought that much of it because the referee dealt with it, he was five yards away and has obviously seen the incident and given a yellow card.
"Only up until 10, 15 minutes ago we have had this decision thrust upon us. We have got until Monday, the end of play, to decide what to do and we will take our time and decide what to do from there."
Ajeti has been accused of causing referee Kevin Clancy to wrongly award Celtic a penalty during their 4-0 victory at Kilmarnock on Tuesday.
With Celtic leading 1-0 through a Scott Brown goal, the former West Ham forward tumbled to the ground inside the penalty area early in the second half as Killie keeper Colin Doyle came out to challenge. Odsonne Edouard converted the spot kickbefore the visitors ran out easy winners.
A fast-track SFA hearing has been pencilled in for Monday if Celtic challenge the notice of complaint. Ahead of the home game against Motherwell today, Lennon said: "It is a penalty. He has had contact to the back of the foot or ankle.
"The keeper has made contact, he has gone down, the referee has given a penalty. I don't see any simulation. Simulation is where there is no contact. There is obvious contact, you can see that quite clearly.
"I don't understand why these charges have been brought up against Albian, we don't agree with it at all so we will be appealing it of course.
"It was a massive surprise when you consider some of the other things that have been going on this season.
"I don't see how it can be deemed (simulation), when you are running at that pace and the goalkeeper is giving the referee a decision to make and the referee has made the right decision.
"He (Ajeti) said he got the contact and he went down and got a penalty. That's where he is with it and that's where we are with it as well, from what we have seen from the footage."