Gerrard charged by Scottish FA over post-match comments

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has been charged by the Scottish FA over comments he made following his team’s win over Dundee United.

The Ibrox side won 4-0 on September 12 but saw four players pick up injuries in the Premiership game, including striker Alfredo Morelos.

The Colombian had to be stretchered off after a challenge from United’s Ryan Edwards left him with a deep cut above his right knee.

Match referee Kevin Clancy did’t award a free-kick or show Edwards a card, which surprised Gerrard.

“I only got a good view of it after the game,” Gerrard told Rangers TV. “There’s obviously a follow-through there, I don’t want to stand here and say a kid should be sent off, of course I don’t.

“What would be interesting is if it was the other way around what the decision would have been.”

Gerrard will now appear in front of a Scottish FA disciplinary hearing where an independent panel will decide if he broke rules about calling the competence or integrity of a match official into question.

If proven he will face a touchline ban. A hearing will take place on October 8.

In a statement on the club website, a club spokesman said Rangers were “bemused” by the decision to start a disciplinary process.

“Rangers are bemused that a notice of complaint has been raised against Steven Gerrard, for comments relating to the challenge which caused injury to Alfredo Morelos,” it read.

“This is a bizarre charge which we will robustly contest at the scheduled hearing.

“As is often the case, Steven Gerrard was asked for his view on a flashpoint in the match, with leading questions relating to the challenge that caused the injury and whether it should have been deemed a red card. On several occasions, he refused to do so.

“Given the wide range of incidents in Scottish football so far this season, we are perplexed that this issue has been raised and cited for complaint.

“Whilst our national sport faces an unprecedented crisis, it is baffling that resources are used to charge Rangers’ manager based on a flawed and inaccurate interpretation of Steven Gerrard’s remarks.

“Rangers will fully support its manager against this charge during the scheduled hearing”