CELTIC today expressed surprise no retrospective disciplinary action will be taken against Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos - and called on the SFA to allow referee John Beaton to explain his decisions.
The SFA revealed yesterday that Morelos wouldn't face any punishment for three separate incidents in the Ladbrokes Premiership game at Ibrox last Saturday because match official Beaton had seen all of them at the time.
SFA compliance officer Clare Whyte can only raise a fast track notice of complaint when none of the three match officials at a game have spotted an incident.
Morelos kicked out at Scott Brown early in a game which Steven Gerrard's team won 1-0 to go level with Brendan Rodgers' side on points at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table. But Beaton only awarded Celtic a free-kick.
Morelos, whose time in Scotland has been blighted by disciplinary problems, later escaped a yellow card for stamping on Anthony Ralston and also for grabbing Ryan Christie.
A hard-hitting statement issued by Celtic on their official website questioned the disciplinary process in this country and revealed they have requested a meeting with SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and head of refereeing John Fleming.
The Scottish champions also expressed concerns about the standard of officiating in Scotland and have urged the SFA to allow Beaton to explain his decisions publicly.
The statement read: "Celtic Football Club is surprised that there will be no disciplinary action taken by the Scottish FA regarding the incidents during the match on December 29, which have been widely addressed in the media.
"It is reported that no action was taken because the match referee saw all of the incidents in question.
"Given that the referee took no action at the time, this tends to suggest that such conduct, which in one instance led to a Celtic player, Anthony Ralston, being injured, is acceptable in Scottish football. That cannot be right.
"On the day, Celtic did not play well enough to win the match, something we accept. However, this issue goes beyond the result of the match.
"Celtic is not the only club this season to raise concerns regarding the standard of officiating at matches in Scotland, concerns which have also been shared by many commentators on the game.
"In order to fully understand what is going on, Celtic, our supporters, Scottish clubs and the general Scottish football public need transparency in these matters, and we therefore call on the Scottish FA to allow the referee, John Beaton, to explain these decisions publicly as well as any match officials involved in other similar circumstances.
"In the meantime, we have requested a meeting with Scottish FA Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, and the Association's Head of Refereeing (John Fleming)."
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