Mystery as Andrew Dallas fails to report Ian Black booking to the SFA
Most reports from the game mention the gritty midfielder being booked during the second half- his sixth booking of the season.
Referee Andrew Dallas has failed to report the booking in his report to the SFA meaning that Black remains free of suspension.
After the Stranraer match the Sevco website reported: “IAN BLACK will serve a suspension next month after he collected his sixth League One booking of the season in this afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Stranraer.
The midfielder was cautioned in the second half by referee Andrew Dallas and automatically incurs a ban which begins 14 days from now.
That means he will definitely miss the meeting with Gary Naysmith’s East Fife side at Ibrox on January 11.
But the club will ask the SFA to clarify if the punishment might be more severe following a suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards last term.
The belief is that because Black faced disciplinary action then and he is now set to do so again for a second consecutive campaign, he could ordered to sit out two games.
If that’s the case, the former Hearts midfielder will also be absent for the clash with Forfar Athletic at Station Park on January 20.
Black had actually managed to avoid any bookings until the dramatic 4-3 win over Brechin on October 19 at Glebe Park.
But having stayed out of trouble in his first eight appearances of 2013/14, he has now collected six cautions in just nine matches.
Manager Ally McCoist said: “It’s extremely disappointing. Ian had managed to avoid picking up yellow cards and silly, needless ones.
“If that’s six in nine games now though that’s not good at all and he’s obviously no good to us in the stand.”
Despite those fears it now appears that Black’s booking wasn’t mentioned in Andrew Dallas’ match report which was sent to the SFA.
This morning the club website reported: “RANGERS have been informed Ian Black has not incurred an automatic suspension as he has not accumulated enough bookings to do so this season.
It appeared the midfielder was cautioned by referee Andrew Dallas during the second half of the 1-1 draw with Stranraer on Boxing Day.
Having collected five other yellow cards in League One so far this campaign, a sixth would have ruled him out of the home clash with East Fife on January 11.
The reason for that is any ban which is the result of a build-up of cautions begins 14 days after the final offence.
Dallas’ match report arrived with SFA officials after the game though showing Lee McCulloch and Sebastien Faure as the only Light Blues players to be booked five days ago.”
According to a report in the Sunday Mail Dougie McDonald has taken up a job with the SFA as a Refereeing Development Officer.