The punishments keep coming for Celtic and Rangers after the Old Firm derby at the weekend
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.
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. Rangers have decided to contest that charge because they don’t believe Kent made contact with Brown’s face.
Brown, meanwhile, has also just been charged by the Scottish FA for his role in several incidents on Sunday.
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.”
