Incidents in Rangers' Scottish Premiership matches at Celtic and Hibs in December result in charges
Friday 17 January 2020 22:50, UK
Rangers have been hit with two charges by the Scottish Football Association in relation to Premiership matches against Celtic and Hibernian last month.
Both Rangers and Hibs have been given notices of complaint by the SFA for failing to "conduct themselves in an orderly fashion" following a clash on the touchline between staff members in the visitors' 3-0 win in Edinburgh on December 20.
Another charge for Rangers takes into account Ryan Kent's goal celebration, Alfredo Morelos's gesture after being sent off and Michael Beale's subsequent confrontation with the Hoops bench in the Gers' 2-1 win in the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park on December 29.
Rangers face punishment for gestures made by Morelos and Kent but both players have escaped individual action. Kent pointed to his temple and the home supporters in an apparent gun gesture after firing Rangers ahead while Morelos made a cut-throat signal as he walked off following his stoppage-time red card.
Rangers later claimed the Colombian had made a "gesture used commonly throughout South America to indicate quite simply that something - in this case, the match - is finished".
The Rangers bench were involved in altercations with their Celtic and Hibs counterparts, with Beale and fellow coach Tom Culshaw also charged individually with misconduct for the incidents at Parkhead and Easter Road respectively.
Hibs' assistant head coach John Potter has also been charged individually over the incident at Easter Road which saw the benches clash following Ryan Porteous's sending off for a reckless tackle on Borna Barisic.
Rangers and Hibs have been charged under Disciplinary Rule 204, which states: "All clubs and recognised football bodies shall procure that its officials, team staff, employees and players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at all times during and/or after a match.
"In particular, clubs and recognised football bodies are responsible for ensuring that its officials, team staff, employees and players refrain from any one or a combination of the following: (a) becoming involved in a confrontation (b) conduct that is likely to lead to or to exacerbate or prolong a hostile or argumentative situation with players and/or team staff from the opposing team and/or match officials (c) conduct that may otherwise incite disorder."
Responding to the charges, Gers boss Steven Gerrard said: "The club will deal with them and we will accept anything that's going to come our way. I was a bit surprised by the timing of it, how long it has taken. But that's the way it is.
"We can't control that. So we'll turn up where we have to turn up, listen to what we have to listen to and deal with whatever comes our way. Will we put up a stout defence? I don't know. I haven't really had time to think about it. It arrived on a match day which is always helpful and handy, so we will look into it tomorrow when we have more time.
"It's not relief (over the decision not to charge Morelos and Kent), no. We have read what's come our way today, the club will deal with it and we'll get on with it. That's the way it is."
The principal hearing date for these charges will be February 6.
