Chris Sutton predicts the SFA will panic under Celtic pressure over Albian Ajeti’s diving charge, but insists Rangers are trying to ‘run the game’.
Swiss striker Ajeti has been offered a tw-game ban after being adjudged to have dived to win a penalty in his team’s 4-0 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock.
The club were reportedly “astonished” that their player was cited by the beaks and will fight the charge.
Sutton believes it was a dive, but that Celtic will be successful with their appeal because the SFA will crumble.
He said: “I think it was a dive, I think it was simulation but I think that the SFA will panic after Celtic put the pressure on and he’ll get away with it.
“I would ban divers. I’ve always said I would ban divers. I would give them a couple of games and that would be a good deterrent.”
Rivals Rangers asked for consistency from the governing body this week when it came to retrospective action.
Alfredo Morelos was cited after a stamp on Hibs’ Ryan Porteous, only for Darren McGregor to escape further punishment after a similar incident with Glen Kamara.
Kemar Roofe has now been handed a two-game ban for a mistime challenge on St Johnstone’s Murray Davidson in midweek.
Sutton believed that should have been a red card, but hit out at The Gers for trying to influence things.
He told BT Sport: “The Roofe one I thought was a mis-timed challenge. Was there any malice in it? Well you rob a bank for the first time.
“It was a poor challenge and I thought it was a red card. I didn’t think Scott Brown was, I thought it was a yellow.
“But for Rangers to get involved once again, the conduct of Rangers has been pretty poor.
“We know what they’re trying to do; they’re trying to put pressure on the authorities.
“They’re trying to run the game!”
