The punishments keep coming.
No sooner had Steven Gerrard finished his press conference on Thursday morning than he discovered that he had been charged with a disciplinary offence by the Scottish FA for comments made following Sunday’s Old Firm game.
Gerrard has been offered a one-game ban for comments he made to referee Bobby Madden after Rangers’ defeat to Celtic, which had quite a few flashpoints, with the Scottish FA confirming the ban on Thursday.
The Scottish Sun reports that the Gers boss was incensed by several decisions made by the official and confronted him after the full-time whistle.
Both Alfredo Morelos and Andy Halliday were sent off during the game, while Ryan Kent has been charged for a clash with Scott Brown, which he received a two game suspension for.
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Brown, meanwhile, has also just been charged by the Scottish FA for his role in several incidents on Sunday.
The Celtic captain has been charged with a breach of Disciplinary Rule 77 – A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Furthermore such person or body shall not act in any manner which is improper or use any one, or a combination of, violent Conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.
His hearing has been principally set for Thursday, May 2nd.
After the game, Gerrard accused the Celtic captain of trying to provoke his players.
“You’re playing against a player that loves to antagonise,” said Gerrard.
“The Alfredo Morelos incident comes from being provoked, the Ryan Kent incident comes from being provoked, and Andy Halliday at the end.
“There’s 98% Celtic support in the stadium today, the Celtic players were right to celebrate and enjoy themselves of course. We did it in the last Old Firm, but to do it five or 10 yards away from our supporters is a lack of respect.
“Andy is well within his rights to protect his own people. The referee hasn’t done anything about the Scott Brown situation, and we’ve been punished for it…
“Maybe (Halliday’s red card) is deserved, but only if the guy who antagonised it from the beginning is punished as well.”
