STEVEN GERRARD is ‘surprised’ at the timing of the action that has been taken by the Scottish FA after Rangers were hit with four disciplinary charges.
It was announced on Friday that coach Tom Culshaw has been cited for his part in a touchline bust-up during the Light Blues’ win over Hibernian at Easter Road last month.
And Michael Beale has been cited after being sent off in the closing stages of Rangers’ Old Firm win at Parkhead in the final game before the winter break.
Rangers have been charged for allegedly breaching Rule 204 – failing to ‘conduct themselves in an orderly fashion’ – in both the Hibernian and Celtic clashes and a principal hearing date of Thursday, February 6 has been set for the cases to be heard at Hampden.
It has taken Compliance Officer Clare Whyte almost a month to cite Rangers and Hibernian coach John Potter for the flashpoint in Leith, while the fallout from the Old Firm clash has now lasted three weeks.
Rangers are expected to comment further on the charges in the coming days and, speaking after the Scottish Cup win over Stranraer last night, boss Gerrard said: “The club will deal with them and we will accept anything that’s going to come our way.
“I was a bit surprised by the timing of it, how long it has taken. But that’s the way it is.
“It’s not relief [that Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent haven't been cited individually], no. We have read what’s come our way today, the club will deal with it and we’ll get on with it. That’s the way it is.
“Exactly (the Hibernian game was almost a month ago). But that’s the way it is. We can’t control that. So we’ll turn up where we have to turn up, listen to what we have to listen to and deal with whatever comes our way.
“I haven’t really had time to think about it. It arrived on a match day which is always helpful and handy, so we will look into it tomorrow when we have more time.”
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