It went uncommented on by those invited to Murray Park yesterday to hear the thoughts of Steven Gerrard ahead of tonight’s visit to Kilmarnock.
When Tom Culshaw and Michael Beale were initially charged by the SFA there was the usual bluster and the threat of fighting the action all the way. As per.
Last Thursday first team coach Beale was given a three match touchline ban apparently for an altercation with John Kennedy during the December Derby at Celtic Park. No action was taken against the Celtic coach.
Gerrard refused to discuss the suspension before the Scottish Cup tie against Hamilton, the Mail on Sunday then published quotes from Beale explaining that he had no issue with Kennedy but the ban was for questioning the integrity of Kevin Clancy. Codeword for cheating.
Criticising a match officials decision making is one issue, accusing them of cheating is an entirely different matter.
When Gerrard was asked about the matter yesterday, he gave an unexpected and unusual answer.
8 minutes 30 seconds
Q) Steven, can I check if you are in a position to give us your take on the punishments to Michael and Tom yet?
Em no, I don’t think that it’s important. They’ve been dealt with, we’ve accepted them and we move forward together. Em, the only thing that’ll happen if I comment or say anything on that or give me real feelings, I’ll end up all over the papers with unnecessary headlines. So there’s no point.
It can only be speculated about what sort of answers from Gerrard would create unnecessary headlines, whether he agrees with Beale’s assessment over Clancy’s integrity or not.
Clancy has still to referee a match involving the Ibrox side in 2020.