Morelos third caution: when, why and what now

It did not take three weeks for Alfredo Morelos to be notified of his third yellow card, received at Celtic Park on 29 December.  All three cautions were reported to Premiership clubs at the same time as every other caution issued in the SPFL on 29 December (a few days after the match).  So it was on the match report.

The media have been briefed that no further action will be taken against the player, or Ryan Kent for his gesture.  It is not clear who briefed them, Newco or the SFA PR.  Either way, a media briefing is only that.  It is not clear that anyone has made this decision.  Celtic are keen to know why this is being reported and why it would be different from other third cautions in a single game.

It would be accurate to say that Celtic are even more animated about the treatment of Ryan Christie and how this was flagrantly inconsistent with the Newco players’ regular attacks on Celtic players, not seen by the referee and not subject to any disciplinary measures.

The SFA have received detailed comparisons of the Christie incident, with several incidents involving Morelos and one involving Allan McGregor, where the SFA procedures resulted in no action.  Unlike the Morelos gesture in December, which is without comparison, the Christie incident was not judged the same way as similar incidents by Newco players.  This assertion is demonstrably true.

You can draw your own conclusions on why these matters are treated differently, I doubt your view will vary far from Celtic’s.  We are in a fight for a hugely important league title and anything that can be done to stop us, is being done.

If you think there is not a consistent or level playing field, you are probably right.  The match officials on the day appear to have done everything by the book – there is no “Dougie, Dougie” scenario.  It is what subsequently happens, in small groups, behind closed doors, where subjective matters are assessed differently.  And don’t let 8-in-a-row and a Treble Treble fool you, this is still Scotland, our achievements are enormously resented.

Not for the first time, I suggested a statement, like the other lot a fond of, would go down well, but was told this isn’t a popularity contest, that it would not enhance our position and that there are actual things we can do to improve our chances of winning the league (which is another story, but it’s being worked on).