BROONY’S STILL IN THE DARK

SCOTT BROWN admitted he still hasn’t got a clue why he was charged by the SFA and faced a ban after Celtic’s 2-1 win over Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox men at Parkhead in March.

And the Hoops skipper added he’s normally the fall guy when it comes to being lumbered with the blame.

The champions’ 33-year-old midfielder was WHACKED in the face by a flying elbow from Alfredo Morelos in an off-the-ball incident that saw the controversial Colombian striker red-carded for the FIFTH time this season.

Brown was brutally PUNCHED on the jaw by Ryan Kent in the immediate aftermath of James Forrest’s winning goal.

And he was TARGETED by a fuming Andy Halliday after the final whistle, an action that brought a second yellow card for the defender and an automatic suspension.

Morelos copped a four-game ban for his cowardly actions and Kent was also sidelined for a match after cameras caught his unprovoked assault.

Brown, speaking to the Evening Times, insisted he did nothing wrong and couldn’t understand the SFA charge of “not acting in the best interests of football”.

The ex-Scotland international captain, who was cleared last week of any wrongdoing, said: “I’m delighted. I don’t think I did anything really wrong. For me, I spoke to the lawyer and he was happy to go forward with it, and I spoke to Peter (Lawwell), as well.

“The SFA had to do something about it, but they were happy enough at the end of the day that I didn’t overstep the mark.

WALLOP…Scott Brown reels backwards after a thuggish punch in the face from Ryan Kent.

“I walked away. I got smacked in the face and punched. I stood up and I walked away from when it was all going on, because somebody is usually looking to blame me, so I made sure I stayed well clear of it all.

“Why was I charged? You tell me. I’ve not got a clue.

“I had to ask the lawyer what that was. I still don’t know. But the SFA was happy enough when we looked at the footage that I didn’t do anything wrong.

“I had people jumping over me at Ibrox the last time. I took it on the chin, I walked away. Each to their own. They did well they managed to beat us at the end of December. They celebrated and I just walked down the tunnel and whatever happened when they came down the tunnel, celebrating and shouting, I just walked into the changing rooms.

“They celebrate, I celebrate. But we won, went 11 points clear and they obviously didn’t like the way we were celebrating.

”I celebrated with my team-mates and a fight kicked off – and I walked away from it.”

Brown added: “Somebody elbowed me in the face and I walked away from it. Somebody punched me in the face and I walked away from it.

“If I was a hooligan, I’d have started a brawl in the middle of the pitch. But I just walked away from it all. I didn’t want to get myself booked or suspended.

“I think I acted quite well on the day”

Asked why he thinks there are some who believe him always to be the guilty party, he answered: “That I’m doing something right! If people hate me it puts a smile on my face. It must mean I’m either playing well or I’m noising somebody up in the wrong way.

“I don’t start anything. I just sit back, take it, watch it all and, hopefully, at the end of the game we are celebrating.

“Football is football. You win, you celebrate, you enjoy yourself and after that for me it is forgotten about.

“There are always a few angry punters or a few angry players who don’t like something, but that is part and parcel of the game and not everyone will agree.”