Compliance officer back in action this week.

After a week of inactivity the SFA compliance officer is back in action with a number of things to look at. 

Vincent Lunny has already said he will look at the “alleged” head butt of Ryan McGowan of Hearts on Ivan Sproule of Hibs. Sadly I don’t think there was too much in this incident but given what Steven Jennings was given a two match ban for I see no hope for McGowan.

I asked last week if the game was getting too soft, and if this is cited as violent conduct it will confirm my belief that it is!!

The CO is also looking at a couple of players who had messages on T shirts under their football strips. Celtic’s Emilio Izaguerre had a message thanking God for getting him back to fitness. While Ian Black of Hearts had a message about “Painting This Place Maroon”, referring to the stories about his part time job.

Once again this is a shame that we have to go this far, but FIFA regulations say these messages are not allowed.

You need to question whether the clubs should be allowing players to wear these T shirts knowing the possible disciplinary consequences.

The CO also has to deal with the Rangers appeal against Lee McCulloch’s sending off against St. Mirren on Christmas Eve, this allowed him to play in the Old Firm game.

It does make a bit of a mockery of what is meant to be a fast track system which appears to have shut down for over a week during the holiday period. For me this is not good enough, if it is fast track it needs be so all season.

This is the industry we are in and this appeal should have been dealt with last week.

Finally, the McGowan head butt was missed by ref Callum Murray, the same ref who missed the Goodwin/Jennings incident at Fir Park, will he be offered a two match ban??