The SFA have revealed that their own Judicial Procedure is incompetent!
During the week the football world was amazed when an appeal against a second yellow card by James Keatings was rejected by the SFA.
That decision has brought almost universal condemnation, reaching as far as Match of the Day Presenter Gary Lineker turning the SFA into a laughing stock.
It seems that the backlash from that decision has struck a nerve inside Hampden with a statement this afternoon shining a light onto the ridiculous processes that the SFA put great store in.
Last month, after a two match suspension was handed out to Ryan Christie Celtic stated that the decision ‘demonstrates a worrying lack of consistency in the Scottish FA fast track process’.
Today the SFA stated:
T?he Scottish FA’s Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, has received notification that the tribunal convened to hear the Claim for Wrongful Caution raised by Inverness Caledonian Thistle on behalf of James Keatings failed to implement its duties as per the Judicial Panel Protocol.
Specifically, one of the panel members has advised that, despite raising no concerns throughout the process, they did not undertake their obligations with respect to the consideration of all the available evidence.
While the Fast Track Claims process is by definition an appeal, and therefore not open to further consideration, none the less the Chief Executive and Presidential team, Rod Petrie and Mike Mulraney, are unanimous that the tribunal outcome cannot be considered competent in light of the disclosure from the panel member and that the input from that panel member must be withdrawn.
It seems incredible that the SFA appointed a panel of three to look at a 20 second video clip and not take consideration of all available evidence.
A new panel will be put together to decide on the appeal.
If ever clubs needed an opportunity to disband and reform the SFA it is now. Opportunities have been missed in the past, it remains to be seen if there is anyone at any club in the country prepared to do the decent thing, show leadership and start afresh.