Scott Brown free to face Rangers as Easter holiday delays SFA appeal hearing

Due to the Easter holidays, today is not deemed to be a ‘working day’ at the governing body, and as such, all ‘fast-track’ appeals will not be heard until Thursday, 27th April.

Read more: Ross County 2 Celtic 2: Scott Brown off the hook after red mist descends in the Highlands

That means that Brown will be free to play against their Glasgow rivals at the weekend after all.

Rodgers, when asked if he had any complaints over Brown’s red card, said: "No. Scotty has gone in and caught the boy late, but I'd have to see it again.

"But Scott has been brilliant this season. He's never once made a challenge like that. He's been aggressive and strong.

"In his defence, the referee was letting a lot go on him. But that was the referee's making. It was a poor end to the game.”

What had upset Rodgers, and evidently Brown, towards the conclusion of what had been a relatively routine if keenly contested match to that point, was referee Don Robertson’s decision to award Ross County a late penalty for a quite outrageous dive from substitute Alex Schalk after Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko had pulled out of a challenge on him in the area.

Rodgers was furious with the actions of Schalk, which he labelled as blatant cheating, but he saved the worst of his ire for referee Don Robertson, describing his decision to award the spot-kick as ‘embarrassing’.

“Scott was a bit late in the tackle, I think he was a little bit frustrated by the referee for a number of reasons, not just the penalty,” Rodgers said.

“I think there were a number of incidents he missed on him that were pretty clear.

“Scotty has gone in, challenged for the ball and been late. But the talking point of the game is the penalty. It’s absolutely awful to take when it costs you another win.

“The players have worked very hard and controlled three quarters of the game. There is no danger but the referee absolutely takes the point away from us.

Read more: Tam McManus: I'd like a bit of honesty and coaches to say 'yes, my player dived' ... is that too much to expect?

"I have seen some bad decisions up here since I've been at Celtic but that is the worst. He is right in front of it and there is clearly no contact.

"Sometimes a ref can be conned into it a bit if Erik stretches his leg or dangles his foot. That can sometimes invite it but he never did that. He moved his foot out of the way. The boys falls and he gives a penalty, which was incredible.

"It's an embarrassing decision at this level, to have that against you.

“The referee was actually in a good position. The linesman was in a good position. So to give a penalty for it was absolutely incredible.

“Players will do that, it’s always happened and in particular over the last number of years you see it. If you’re Jim [McIntyre] you’re delighted you get it.

"But is it cheating? It is. Let's not fudge and beat about the bush. That's what it is. You see it in the game but the referee lost control of the game, which led to the penalty and the sending off.

"It wasn't very good officiating. I didn't speak to the referee afterwards on the pitch. It wasn't the time or place.

"But I'll definitely speak to him - if he lets the lock off his door.”

It isn’t the first time this season that Celtic have justifiably felt aggrieved at a penalty award against them, with Jamie Walker of Hearts also diving for a penalty under a challenge from Kieran Tierney in the opening game of the season.

The winger was handed a two-game ban for that incident by the SFA, and Rodgers feels there is an even clearer case for retrospective punishment on this occasion.

“With [Walker’s], at the time you thought it was but it wasn’t until afterwards it was more clear,” he said.

Read more: Ross County 2 Celtic 2: Scott Brown off the hook after red mist descends in the Highlands

“But that there was visible. There was actually no contact whatsoever. The referee has got to have a real look at that because it was a really bad decision for what was an easy decision.

“I thought when he was pulling out his yellow card he was giving it to the Ross County player.

It was really poor and I’m sure the boy will get a ban for that.”

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre accepted that the penalty should never have been given, but he defended his player, saying that Schalk was expecting contact from Sviatchenko and has gone down as a result.

“You can clearly see Sviatchenko is going to make a challenge and Alex is expecting it's coming and he is on his way down expecting the contact,” McIntyre said.

“Sviatchenko, being the good defender that he is, doesn't over-commit, pulls his leg back and Alex goes down.

“We certainly don't encourage players to go down without any contact, what I'm saying to you is he's expecting contact and the contact doesn't come. Does it look good? No, it certainly does not. It's not a penalty. So, I can totally understand Celtic's frustration.

“I knew he pulled his leg back, I could see it. Both Brendan and I could see there didn't look contact from where we were. I don't know [the referee’s] position, whether he has seen from a side angle.”