Rangers have hit out at a "bizarre" charge levelled at boss Steven Gerrard by the SFA.
The Ibrox manager has been rapped by the authorities over comments made regarding a challenge on Alfredo Morelos during a 4-0 win over Dundee United.
Post-match, Gerrard was quizzed over a hotly-debated incident involving Morelos and United's Ryan Edwards which left the former with a gash in his leg and unable to continue.
He responded by suggesting the referee's view may have been different had roles been reversed.
Rangers have vowed to "robustly contest" the charge at an upcoming hearing on Thursday, October 8.
A statement issued on Wednesday branded the move a "baffling" use of SFA resources in the current crisis climate.
It read: "Rangers are bemused that a notice of complaint has been raised against Steven Gerrard, for comments relating to the challenge which caused injury to Alfredo Morelos.
"This is a bizarre charge which we will robustly contest at the scheduled hearing.
"As is often the case, Steven Gerrard was asked for his view on a flashpoint in the match, with leading questions relating to the challenge that caused the injury and whether it should have been deemed a red card.
"On several occasions, he refused to do so.
"Given the wide range of incidents in Scottish football so far this season, we are perplexed that this issue has been raised and cited for complaint.
"Whilst our national sport faces an unprecedented crisis, it is baffling that resources are used to charge Rangers’ manager based on a flawed and inaccurate interpretation of Steven Gerrard’s remarks.
"Rangers will fully support its manager against this charge during the scheduled hearing."
Gerrard's comments, made in the aftermath of the win on September 12, came after he'd been able to view the incident a second time.
He told Rangers TV: "I only got a good view of it after the game. There's obviously a follow through there, I don't want to stand here and say a kid should be sent off, of course I don't.
"What would be interesting is if it was the other way around what the decision would have been."
If hit with a touchline ban, Gerrard faces missing the opening derby of the season at Celtic Park on October 17.
The charge relates to SFA disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits criticising the performance of match officials in way that suggests "bias or incompetence".
It reads: "No recognised football body, club, official, team official or other member of team staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character. For the avoidance of doubt this rule applies (i) whether reported to the Scottish FA by a match official for misconduct or otherwise, and (ii) where remarks are brought to the Scottish FA’s attention, or of which the Scottish FA becomes aware, by whatever manner or means.
"There shall be a presumption that any material published in such manner was published in the name of and/or with the authority of the person or body bearing to have published the material."
