Sport nationRangers manager Philippe Clement could face disciplinary action from the Scottish Football Association (SFA) after his comments about the referee’s decision not to award a penalty to Rangers in their recent Premier Sports Cup final match against Celtic.
Clement was furious after the match, which Celtic won 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw, and claimed that the referee’s decision not to award a penalty for a foul on Vaclav Cerny was “decisive” and “really weird”.
The Rangers manager also urged journalists to “really dig in to things” regarding the referee’s decision, which has been interpreted as a suggestion that the referee’s decision was influenced by external factors.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has criticized Clement’s comments, saying that they were “crass” and “shouldn’t have been made”. Hackett also pointed out that Clement had other channels through which to express his concerns, such as writing to the SFA or speaking to the head of refereeing, Willie Collum.
The SFA has the power to discipline Clement for his comments, which could be seen as bringing the game into disrepute. The governing body has not yet commented on the matter, but it is likely that they will investigate Clement’s comments and potentially take disciplinary action.
Clement’s comments have also been criticized by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who said that the Rangers manager’s comments were “unacceptable” and “damaging to the game”.
The controversy surrounding Clement’s comments has overshadowed the achievement of Celtic, who won their first Premier Sports Cup title in five years. The match was a thrilling encounter, with both teams creating numerous scoring opportunities.
In other news, Rangers have been linked with a move for Everton star Dwight McNeil, who has been impressive for the Toffees this season. The transfer window is set to open in January, and Rangers are likely to be active in the market as they look to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season.
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