Former referee Kenny Clark has condemned Rangers appeal against Lee McCulloch’s red card against St Mirren as cynical and disappointing.
Rangers announced yesterday that they would appeal the decision to order McCulloch off after he elbowed St Mirren’s Graham Carey in front of referee Steven McLean.
With SFA staff enjoying an extended winter break until January 5 McCulloch is free to play against Celtic and Motherwell and will miss the Scottish Cup tie at Arbroath if his appeal is dismissed.
This season the SFA brought in a Fast Track appeal system to hear appeals and administer justice but the extended Christmas holiday enjoyed by the SFA has shown the system up as anything but ‘fast-track’
“Have no doubts this is a cynical and disappointing exploitation of a festive loophole to make sure McCulloch can face Celtic tomorrow night,” Clark said in his column in The Sun.
“Rangers would not be appealing Lee McCulloch’s red card if they still had a 12-point lead over Celtic- let’s just make that clear right away.
“Personally, I don’t think they’ll care if they eventually have it rejected- as it should be- by the SFA next week. The bottom line is McCulloch is now free to play at Parkhead and against Motherwell on Monday. That’s all that really matters to them, in my mind.
“We’re talking about Rangers’ actions but only a fool would believe no other club would do the same if they were in a similar situation.
“Rangers have sussed out the possibility and gone for it so it’s mission accomplished. They can’t appeal Goian’s dismissal as it was two yellows. The need for McCulloch to be involved for the Celtic showdown was even greater.”
Clark added: “Steven McLean appeared perfectly placed to judge Saturday’s flashpoint with Graham Carey and he acted with conviction. Having seen McCulloch’s swinging arm I can only back the decision.
“There’s a train of thought that because contact was not that severe it shouldn’t have been a red card but the impact factor is irrelevant.
“It’s the intent that counts and there’s no doubt in my mind that McCulloch was looking to connect.
“The ref will be consulted during the appeal process and asked if he now has a different view but I would be shocked if he changed his mind.”
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SFA shouldn’t be closed at this time if we’ve got games on. Is there a case to increase McElbows suspension due to appeal.
Cauld anyone confirm I’ve not woken up in a parallel universe because an ex referee criticising Rearangers these things don’t happen where I live.
Once again, the sfa look to be making rules with no ideas how to enforce them. If the sfa disciplinary staff have a xmas break, how can they know that this red card is being appealed? Who is working at the sfa to give him clearance to play ?
Secondly, it smacks of desperation, hopefully rangers are shaking in their wee orange boots at the thought of playing us without their main ‘hammer thrower’
Once again, the sfa look to be making rules with no ideas how to enforce them. If the sfa disciplinary staff have a xmas break, how can they know that this red card is being appealed? Who is working at the sfa to give him clearance to play ?
Secondly, it smacks of desperation, hopefully rangers are shaking in their wee boots at the thought of playing us without their main ‘hammer thrower’
Let them appeal shows how the sfa work, its in our own hands never mind looking for excuses, lets beat the manky mob fair and square,
I see another manager complaining about refs, that c;nt tell the time, well if they would stop instructing there teams, to waste time there would be no extra minutes add,
With McClugger back we can no doubt look forward to further additions to our injury list.
is Kenny feeling ok ? for a minute there, i thought he was talking straight regarding DignityFC – then he indulged in whataboutery so he must be fine after all… “but only a fool would believe no other club would do the same if they were in a similar situation”
and with regard to Elbows, well, 10yrs too late for the red but the festive loophole is surely working in his favour – will this be in place next season too ? – i hope not
Am I being cynical here or bearing in mind the amount if OTT ‘tackles’ from ragers do you think they were aware that there would be no disciplinary hearings till after the Glasgow derby?
As it happens I think the appeal will act against ragers is he’ll probably get sent off again!!
Rangers are right to do what’s best for them, it is the SFA who have made this ridiculous situation. The good thing is Rangers are relying on a terrible player like mcculloch to play against us, it shows they have a poor depth in squad.
Just what I expected from Sneaky Fat Ally
Stewart Regan 22nd July
However, Regan revealed that under new rules ‘road tested by two sets of lawyers and a QC’, appeals that ‘have no chance’ of being won could be punished by an additional one match suspension.
He said: ‘If there are frivolous appeals, the panel will reserve the right to add on an additional one-match suspension as an extra sanction.
We shall see.
As much as Clark was always a rangers man, he is dead right. The loophole is there and we would have exploited it too if necessary. McCulloch is a nobody. Why are we getting worked up about it?