Celtic interim manager John Kennedy believes that Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson should not be facing the Hoops at Ibrox this month, as quoted in The Scottish Sun.
Celtic will take on Rangers away from home at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup on April 17.
Right-back Patterson – described as “outstanding” by former Rangers central defender and assistant manager David Weir on BT Sport 3 (10:24pm, March 18, 2021) – is available to play against the Hoops despite breaching Covid rules.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers and their manager Steven Gerrard have appealed against the six-game ban given to the 19-year-old and four other players who attended a lockdown house party, with the hearing to take place on April 20.
The report has claimed that Rangers has urged the officials to go easy on Patterson because a ban could be damaging to the 19-year-old.
Celtic interim manager Kennedy cannot believe that the youngster was free to face Celtic in the last Old Firm derby and could play against them in the Scottish Cup as well.
The Scottish Sun quotes Kennedy as saying: “Steven Gerrard’s got his reasons to do that and say what he said. But regardless if you are a talent or you’re not, you’ve still broken the protocols, and there’s a punishment that goes with that.
“Our players are talented too. They have been punished. It’s the same difference. We paid money for them and have high hopes for them. Look at the Boli Bolingoli situation.
Yes, he broke the law, and he was harshly punished for it — rightly so. We’re not defending that. But it was a massive setback in terms of his career at Celtic.”
Kennedy added: “We were addressed very quickly in the situation we were in. We had games postponed, and the players were dealt with fairly quickly.
“I really don’t know what the delay and the hold-up is. Players who probably should have been banned played against us. They have broken rules.”
Fairness
While one can understand why such major decisions take time, it is important that the SFA are fait in their judgements.
Punishments for breaching rules should be dealt with fairly and firmly.
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