Celtic will fight Scott Brown’s charge by accusing the SFA of double standards.
The furious champions will fling the case of Josh Windass back at the governing body after their captain was cited for celebrating the win over Rangers in front of away fans.
Part of their defence will be formed around Windass escaping punishment after the former Ibrox forward aimed a rude gesture aimed at opposition supporters during a game against Partick Thistle.
Windass was let off due to the SFA’s rule 200 - which deals with retrospective action for on-field incidents - being changed back in September 2017 to remove punishment for gestures and actions towards the crowd.
But Brown has been charged under a different rule – 77 – and Celtic want to know why.
The 33-year-old midfielder has been accused of "not acting in the best interest of Scottish football" and Celtic feel double standards are being applied to their player and the former Rangers star.
Neil Lennon has already made known his problem with the action over Brown as he blasted the SFA for making up a "trumped-up charge" after Celtic revealed they will "vigorously" contest the charge.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon mocks Steven Gerrard with 'irrational' jibe
Now the club will question the SFA at Brown’s hearing on Thursday, May 2. They want to know why Windass wasn’t also charged under the same rule by which the governing body have hit Brown.
Lennon mounted a stiff defence of his club captain on in-house media earlier today.
The manager said: "My players have been exemplary, absolutely. They are under immense provocation themselves.
"Scott Brown has nothing to defend himself for.
"His treatment on the pitch was nothing short of disgraceful. He’s been elbowed, he’s been hit in the face but he takes it, he stands up to it and he comes back for more.
"It’s the character of the man.
"So you get the usual nonsense, trying to put the eggs in the same basket.
"We’re totally exempt from this blame."
