The SFA have handed out a £10,000 fine to Dave King for the actions of his players in the December Glasgow derby.
Yesterday a hearing inside Hampden was presented with evidence including the gestures made at Celtic fans by Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
After scoring the opening goal the former Liverpool starlet ran to the Celtic support with an imaginary gun pointing to his head while his other hand simulated firing shots into the crowd. Kent had never previously celebrated a goal in that manner.
Morelos made a cut throat gesture after being sent off in stoppage time. Rather than charge the players individually which could lead to a suspension the SFA opted to hit the club with a £10,000 fine which is the equivalent of one week’s wages for Brandon Barker.
The Sun reports:
RANGERS have lost their battle with the SFA over the controversial gestures made by Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent in the last Old Firm clash.
SunSport can reveal Gers have been hit with a £10,000 fine after an independent panel studied Morelos’ ‘throat’ gesture and Kent’s ‘gun’ goal celebration at Celtic Park in December.
Both Morelos and Kent escaped SFA bans in the wake of the derby. SFA Compliance Officer Clare Whyte included the incidents in an overall club conduct charge.
Gers were fighting to clear their players’ names at a Hampden hearing late on Tuesday night after the initial meeting had been adjourned last week.
They argued Kent didn’t incite trouble and claimed Morelos was merely signalling it was game over after he’d been sent off in the match. But after hours of lengthy legal discussions at the national stadium the panel ruled against the Ibrox club.
An appeal and furious statement is expected from Ibrox over the next 48 hours. First team coach Michael Beale has already served a three match touchline ban for questioning the integrity of referee Kevin Clancy.
