Rangers have been accused of playing the system in order to have Nathan Patterson available to play Celtic.
The young right back is one of the Ranger s “Covid 5” facing a ban for breaching regulations and here hit with four game bans with a further two suspended.
But the Ibrox club appealed the sanctions and it has yet to be heard and a result isn’t due until 20 April.
That meant Patterson was available to play in the 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw ay Celtic Park last month with James Tavernier injured, and will also be eligible to face the Hoops in this Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash.
And former Celtic assistant manager John Collins believes the club knew exactly what they were doing in appealing and says the Scottish FA’s judicial process is flawed.
He said: “In my opinion, they’ve used the system. Tavernier’s out injured and their only other real right back is the young lad, who’s going to be suspended.
“So they’ve played the system and delayed the process which means they had a right back available for the last Old Firm and they’re going to have a right back available on Sunday.
“So it’s worked and once again the SFA system is flawed. The process should be much quicker and the question should have been asked straight away: ‘Why are you appealing something that you’re not going to win?’
“They [the players] have broken the rules and they need to pay for that.
“The frustrating thing is it’s been 65 days since the rule was broken. 65 days for a process to happen? I think that’s too long. Going forward, that’s got to change.”
