With the furore of the Rangers COVID 5 appeal which allows those players involved free to face Celtic in the Scottish Cup next week, there has been an outcry from Celtic quarters questioning why it has taken so long for the Scottish Football Association to deal with the disciplinary process on an incident which happened almost six weeks ago.
On last nights Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, a Celtic fan called the show to question the panel of Hugh Keevins and Jim Duffy and give his point of view (and probably the majority of Celtic fans agree) that it is inherent bias towards the club from Govan by the games governing body which has led us to where we are, “It’s just a quick point as Hugh was saying he doesn’t understand how it took this long. I think everybody with a brain can understand and can see how it took this long.
“Because when the breach happened it was about the time James Tavernier has been injured. So for them to suspended they players Rangers would have went part of the season with no full back cover.
“It’s not really hard to see. Its kind of bias and it’s been proven in past history as well the bias to one team.
“From the Jim Farry incident, Hugh Dallas and Dougiegate incident and a lot of other things. What’s your point your point on that?”
Keevins was first up to answer and refused to acknowledge the past cases which the caller referred to, “Well first of all you given us a history lesson there. Let’s confine ourselves to this story. You’ve made an accusation that you cannot prove with regard to the SFA and the timing of the hearings etc etc. (Except the caller literally just listed incidents where the S.F.A. have been proved to be biased.)
“All I am asking is, from a legislative point of view, how can it take five weeks in the first instance, to have a hearing on this matter?
“How can it take five weeks, and then Rangers having been appealed, a week ago. It takes a WEEK to come up with a date for the appeal hearing at that appeal hearing is a further 10 days away.
“So for me, the SFA have just get themselves into a mess over this.”
No Hugh, for me, the caller has a point which you just answered without realising it. Looking at the timeline between the Aberdeen Eight and Bolingoli’s misdemeanours, there is a clear disparity between when the Rangers players broke protocols to when their punishment was dished in comparison to the other two cases.