SPFLÂ clubs met at Hampden yesterday to demand talks with SFA Compliance Officer Clare Whyte.
It seemed that Whyte’s role had been made redundant during the first half of the season as Alfredo Morelos was involved in stamping incidents in the September Glasgow derby and also the final of the League Cup.
Suddenly on December 31 Ryan Christie was given a two match suspension for an incident with Morelos that apparently was unseen by referee Kevin Clancy who awarded a free kick against the Celtic midfielder.
The inconsistencies were compounded by the lack of action against the Ibrox striker. Nineteen days after the match, and contrary to the information on the SFA website it was claimed that Morelos had been given a third yellow card.
Celtic’s statement after Christie was found guilty of brutality mentioned on-going talks with the SFA but overnight there has been a new development.
Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail reports:
Scotland’s clubs want clear-the-air talks with the SFA to address growing anger over a chaotic disciplinary system. Rangers and Celtic have issued strongly worded statements since last month’s Old Firm clash at Parkhead, criticising the decision making of Compliance Officer Clare Whyte.
However, Sportsmail understands unrest over Whyte’s application of the SFA judicial protocols has now spread to other clubs.
And, following SPFL meetings at Hampden on Monday, chairmen will now make a request for showdown talks with the SFA hierarchy and compliance officer Whyte via the Professional Game Board.
Coming under increasing pressure to explain the random nature of decisions and criticised for a lack of clarity or consistency, the governing body has come under attack from both Glasgow clubs. And events of the last three weeks have cemented a feeling that things can’t go on as they are.
It remains to be seen if anything meaningful will come from talks between the two governing bodies or whether the SPFL just want to be seen to be doing something while the SFA continue to do whatever they like over disciplinary charges.
Ian Bankier is chairman of Celtic.