THE SFA Compliance Officer is set to review comments made by former defender John Brown on Rangers TV querying the integrity of officials during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Hibernian.
Performing co-commentary duties for the club’s in house television channel Brown was angered by the failure to award Rangers a second goal at Easter Road when midfielder Nico Raskin appeared to force the ball over the line in the first half, seconds before Hibs swept up the pitch to equalise.
Broadcasters claimed that VAR saw "no conclusive evidence/angle to say the ball had fully crossed the line to award Rangers a second goal".
Brown disagreed, saying on air: "I would say it is corrupt.
Commentator Tom Miller cautioned: "Well, I'm not sure we can actually say that”, before Brown continued: "Well, I am saying it.”
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Herald Sport understands that the SFA believe there are grounds for action under article 29.2 of the rules which reads: "A club or recognised football body which publishes, distributes, issues, sells or authorises a third party to publish, distribute, issue or sell a match programme or any other publication or audio/visual material of any description in any media now existing or hereinafter invented, including but not limited to the Internet, social networking or micro-blogging sites, shall ensure that any such publications or audio/visual material does not contain any criticism of any match official calculated to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official or to impinge upon his character."
In 2019, the Scottish FA compliance officer was forced to look at critical comments made by Tom Boyd on Celtic TV regarding referee John Beaton.
"If he doesn't know that's a penalty he should not be in the middle of the park refereeing a football game," Boyd said.
"He'll probably be welcomed down his pub tonight again."
"Our supporters, players and staff deserve better.
"We will raise this with the Scottish FA and continue to press for initiatives which improve the accuracy of decision-making.”
A Rangers spokesperson said: “In a season where Rangers have been on the receiving end of several major officiating errors, frustration is entirely understandable. The idea that spontaneous remarks could warrant disciplinary action is excessive, surprising and inconsistent.
“This development should not overshadow what was a clear mistake, evident to anyone who has seen the footage of the game. The focus should be on raising refereeing standards for the good of Scottish football.
“Should a charge follow, we will defend it, and question whether club channels across the league are being monitored and policed equally.”
