CELTIC have made contact with the dithering SFA to demand clarification over the delay in the unacceptable Ibrox Covid 5 situation.
The Hoops hierarchy are seeking answers from Hampden disciplinary bosses after charges against Nathan Patterson and four other Govan law breakers took nearly two months and an appeal will now be held three days AFTER the Scottish Cup fourth round meeting between the clubs a week today.
CQN was the first to make the point of the inexplicable discrepancy between the soccer beaks taking prompt action against Boli Bolingoli in August while dragging their feet against five of Steven Gerrard’s players who breached Covid protocols to attend a house party on February 14.
Ludicrously, it is claimed the SFA delayed taking action after giving the Ibrox club time to conduct their own investigation in to the illegal gathering.
But it took more than THREE WEEKS for the Govan outfit to conclude their findings and the governing body longer again to raise an action.
With right-back and captain James Tavernier sidelined through injury, Patterson has been involved in six domestic games – including the 1-1 draw with Celtic last month – since the incident and will be free to face the Cup holders, along with Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu, next weekend.
The Hoops took their own swift action against blundering Bolingoli following his hush-hush trip to high-risk Spain with the knowledge of anyone at the club. He played a cameo role in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on August 9 before his crazy indiscretion was discovered 24 hours later.
He was packed off on a season-long loan to Turkey, but not before swift action from the SFA to ban the Belgian defender while postponing two crucial Premiership games against Aberdeen and St Mirren.
A Celtic spokesman said: “There have been a number of calls for ‘consistency’ this season – we couldn’t agree more.
“The SFA has dealt with other cases swiftly this season and only they can explain the timing in this case.
“We have therefore sought clarification from the Scottish FA so that Scottish football can understand the approach in disciplinary cases, in the interests of transparency and consistency.”
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Livingston this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
