Celtic legend David Provan has mocked Rangers manager Steven Gerrard for his comments on Nathan Patterson, as quoted in The Scottish Sun.
Provan thinks that Rangers boss Gerrard is wrong to suggest that a ban on Patterson for breaching covid rules will be harmful for the young right-back.
Rangers defender Patterson and four other Ibrox players have been given a six-game ban for attending an illegal house party during lockdown in February, as reported by BBC Sport.
The Gers, who have already won the Scottish Premiership title this season, have appealed against the ban, and the hearing will take place after next weekend’s Scottish Cup tie against Celtic at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Gerrard wants the SFA to take into consideration Patterson’s age and his potential, but Provan is not having any of that.
Provan wrote in The Scottish Sun: “If a hamstring strain kept Nathan Patterson out for four weeks, would it affect his career? Hardly.
“So what is Steven Gerrard on about claiming the youngster’s four-game ban for a Covid breach would damage his career?
“He says: ‘This kid is going to go and play for Scotland and the SFA want to ban him for that long’. Is Gerrard saying bans should only apply to lower-league scufflers?
“He’s lucky he wasn’t managing Rangers when Duncan Ferguson spent 44 days in the clink for headbutting Raith Rovers’ Jock McStay. The SFA threw in a 12-game ban for good measure. Patterson got off lightly.”
Fairness
When the SFA make their decision, they have to be fair and must not look at the players’ age or their potential. All players should be treated equally, and the punishment should be consistent and fair.
Hopefully Patterson and the Rangers Covid Five will have learned from their mistakes.
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