Celtic's Scott Brown appeal dismissed by SFA

The club have said they are "amazed" the appeal over the red card given to Scott Brown during Celtic's 1-0 loss against Rangers on Sunday has been dismissed by the Scottish FA.

Brown was sent off in the 65th minute, with the score at 0-0, after an altercation with Kyle Lafferty, best described as "handbags". Brown will now be banned for a total of three games - a one-match ban for the red card and a two-match ban for receiving 18 disciplinary points.

After the match, Celtic announced they intended to appeal against Dougie McDonald's decision, with the club website describing it as "controversial" and that anybody who saw the incident either at the time or via a replay "could see it wasn't a red card".

A Celtic spokesman told the club's official site: "We are amazed at this decision and believe it is the wrong one. Given the general consensus that the initial decision was incorrect and the availability of supporting video evidence, at the very least, the incident should have been referred to a separate Review Panel.

"Naturally, we are very disappointed that this simple opportunity was not taken. Clearly, it is also very disappointing that Scottish Football Association rules do not permit this decision to be appealed."

Amazement may not be the most appropriate emotion, given the number of decisions taken over the years that don't appear to be in Celtic's favour. Perhaps "inevitable acceptable" or "predictable aloofness" would be more suitable?

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Writer: Jamie@Vital Celtic

Date:Thursday March 4 2010

Time: 6:27PM

Your Comments

The right decision I think.

J Dogg

Shockeroony ........!!!!!! don't think that I will ever be able to get my head around the concept of referring the decision back to the person that made it in the first place ......... not that it would make a blind bit of difference as far as Celtic players are concerned .. but for the sake of superficial parity and fairness at least I'm surprised that this system was ever sanctioned in the first place unless that is ,, it suits the establishments anti Celtic agenda ...... perhaps it's time for Celtic to take their well founded case spanning over decades and demand justice from Football's official bodies ..........

wishaw bhoy

Not sure its really "anti-Celtic"... more a case of "anti-anybody-who-dares-to-speak-publicly-against-us". But definitely politically motivated decisions today (Brown and Kingston). Thats another £2,000 in the SFA Xmas party kitty (from the 2 appeals) - and they'll be able to upgrade to a 5-star hotel for their bash once they hammer Hearts for another £30,000 pretty soon. Romanov may be mad, but he's dead right about the SFA mafia.

Specs Haver

A fair point with regard to anyone challenging them SH and one wonders why Watty Smith was allowed to condemn a linesman by name in a match against Motherwell with complete impunity & by the same token ,, why Craig Levein's case was subsequently dropped when he resolutely refused to yield to their bully boy tactics when then manager of Hearts .......... as I said earlier ,, maybe it's time to seek justice elsewhere ....

wishaw bhoy

Good point, WB - the linesman comment from Walter went unpunished. Mind you, the "Celtic source" story looks like it will go unpunished too. Wonder when Smith-must-Score is going to carry out his review of the appeal process - maybe he's waiting till Hibs win the Scottish Cup !!

Specs Haver

He'll have a long wait then.

J Dogg