OPINION
Celtic might have won their third successive domestic treble this season but it was Rangers who stole bragging rights on the final derby day of the campaign in Glasgow.
A 2-0 victory at Ibrox ensured that the Light Blues faithful had something to savour heading into the summer off-season, the Parkhead support likely to have quickly put that particular disappointment behind them and focused on their three trophies.
It was a strange game. Celtic looked lacking in intensity for much of the game while Rangers’ confidence ebbed and flowed, leaving the crunch clash – which had nothing but pride riding on it – in the balance.
However, the Gers might consider themselves fortunate to have come away with the win and with 11 men still on the pitch, Jon Flanagan escaping serious punishment for what appeared to be a moment of madness involving Scott Brown.
The defender appeared to throw his elbow towards the Hoops captain in the box, catching him in the throat and sending him to the ground – a yellow card all that was handed his way for the incident.
There was no retrospective action taken – to what was likely plenty of frustration from those of a Celtic persuasion – and the SFA have issued a statement, as revealed by the Daily Record, explaining why.
They state: “Having viewed the available footage of the incident, provided by both parties, and having considered the submissions from both parties, the Fast Track Tribunal decided that the notice of complaint should be dismissed.
The referee saw the incident in question, and, notwithstanding that he did not see the actual point of contact, he saw sufficient to assess brutality and decided that the action of the player was reckless.
“The Fast Track Tribunal took the view that the player made contact with the chest/neck area of the opponent, not with his face or head, and that the evidence did not meet the ‘exceptional’ test in Judicial Panel Protocol 3.3. Accordingly, the Fast Track Tribunal dismissed the complaint.”
Now the SFA have already become the laughing stock of Scottish football with their officiating decisions in the recent past and this has only seen them hit new lows.
How can they suggest that a swinging elbow, no matter where it hits the opposition, does not represent an exceptional circumstance? It was dangerous, reckless and always going to come into contact with Brown.
Hitting a player in the throat with any part of your arm, not least your elbow, has the potential to cause serious damage and Flanagan was fortunate to escape. The SFA should have stayed quiet – this makes them look incompetent and as though they are putting the rules ahead of player safety.