Rangers have slammed an SFA charge for Jon Flanagan after Celtic's Jozo Simunovic escaped punishment.
The Ibrox defender has been hit by a Notice of Complaint for his clash with Scott Brown during last weekend’s Old Firm game.
However, Rangers are enraged that Simunovic has not also been cited after an incident with Jermain Defoe.
The English striker went down in the first period of the contest in an off-the-ball clash where he appeared to be struck in the face by the backtracking defender’s arm as the pair raced towards the Celtic goal.
Referee Kevin Clancy and his assistants did not spot the incident during the game and the Ibrox club are now fuming at the situation as they vowed to "vigorously defend" Flanagan following his citation from compliance officer Clare Whyte.
A club spokesperson said: “Once again, there seems intent to change the decision of a referee in a match involving Rangers.
“There seems to be a steady erosion of respect for Scotland’s referees and the authority they are meant to enjoy under Rule 5 of the Laws of the Game.
“The decisions of referees regarding facts connected with play are meant to be final, but referees are now routinely invited to change their decisions after a game has finished.
“It is particularly shocking that another Rangers’ player has been singled out for retrospective action and issued with a notice of complaint while Jozo Simunovic, the Celtic player who used an elbow to fell Jermain Defoe, has escaped any kind of censure.
“Why did one incident escape punishment while the other is now deemed worthy of a red card?
“We cannot understand how these two incidents could be studied, yet only one be considered worthy of punishment.
“It seems as if Rangers’ players are being held to a different code of conduct from players at other clubs.
“We shall vigorously defend Mr Flanagan and have also asked for full transparency on what matters are brought forward for retrospective action. Are those decisions being made even-handedly?”
Flanagan was yellow carded during the 2-0 victory for his side after decking the Celtic skipper in a second-half incident.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon insisted after the match it was “unacceptable” that Clancy chose to issue just a booking and Brown revealed the whistler told him that decision was taken as he felt the blow had not stuck him in the face.
Having reviewed footage of the incident, Compliance Officer Clare Whyte has issued Flanagan with a Fast Track Notice under Disciplinary Rule 200 for any sending-off offences missed at the time by match officials.
Flanagan’s Fast Track Tribunal Hearing is tomorrow, where he looks set to cop a retrospective red card and a two-game suspension.
Whyte’s move could bring a third retrospective red card for Rangers in just over three months.
Jon Flanagan faces ban as SFA charge Rangers defender over Scott Brown elbow
Keeper Allan McGregor, who is currently serving a suspension for an ordering-off against Hibs, was cited after a challenge on Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson during the Light Blues’ 4-2 win at Pittodrie in February.
Winger Ryan Kent was also pulled-up by the SFA after another clash with Brown on the halfway line during his side’s 2-1 loss to Celtic at Parkhead in March.
