Chris Sutton: Scottish FA Morelos decision is a stitch-up

BT Sport pundit Chris Sutton has launched a scathing attack on the Scottish FA in the wake of their decision not to punish Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos over three incidents during their 1-0 win over Celtic last weekend.

In his column for the Daily Record, Sutton criticised the decision by the Scottish FA disciplinary panel and that of referee John Beaton for their non-action against the Colombia striker after three clear acts of violent conduct.

Sutton, who played for Celtic between July 2000 to January 2006, claimed that the Scottish FA has made Scottish Football look ‘like a stitch-up’ in the wake of their decision and did the Ibrox side a ‘massive favour by letting Alfredo Morelos off the hook’.

But the 45-year-old went as far as claiming their ‘non-decision leaves the SFA wide open to accusations of corruption’.

Sutton said:

"“Take nothing away from Rangers, their performance was exceptional. But any sane supporter in Scotland will admit Morelos was extremely fortunate to stay on the pitch. Simple as that.“If they had applied the rules correctly then El Buffalo would have been on the end of three separate red cards. That means three bans, six games, or even more if they pushed him through the disciplinary points totting up threshold.“But yet again it looks like the SFA have bottled it. They know there would have been a huge outcry from Ibrox, but if that’s the reason Beaton has stuck to his guns then it’s either cowardice or corruption, take your pick.“Given the Rangers reaction to the Daniel Candeias red card at St Mirren when they flamed Collum, you have to wonder if the SFA were scared of a similar response this time around.“If so, that is completely wrong. It’s miles off. That decision was a poor one but it doesn’t mean you don’t judge every subsequent one on their own merits. Failing to do so is the very definition of corruption.“How the heck can Beaton say he saw the three incidents and didn’t deem any of them to be red cards? It’s unbelievable.”"

During Saturday’s derby game, Morelos was seen to kick Celtic captain Scott Brown in the groin, stamp on Anthony Ralston’s back, punch Ryan Christie in the groin and go late in on Christie again this time with a flailing elbow – yet no booking was shown to the 22-year-old for any of the incidents and worse still – he was not even spoken to by the referee, who claimed he had seen all incidents occur.

Such in-action from both the match officials and the Scottish FA must surely send the wrong message out to players and the next generation of players, who will now think Morelos’ thuggish tendencies are perfectly fine.

Sutton added:

"“What are we dealing with here, the Wild West? Is it a case of anything goes? Beaton and the SFA are effectively telling everyone in the game it’s okay to boot a rival player in the nuts.“There’s no problem grabbing someone’s private parts – unless you are Steven MacLean. It’s fine if you want to stamp on someone.“That’s what the SFA are telling the kids in Scotland who are looking to make their way in the game. It’s preposterous and genuinely alarming. These are the kind of decisions that are not just influencing young people, they are making Scottish football a laughing stock beyond its own borders.”"

The former Blackburn and Celtic striker also rounded on referee John Beaton calling his decision to come away with the same conclusion to take no action as ‘beyond belief’ and called the referees, ex-ref network and compliance officer ‘not fit for purpose’.

He said:

"“This is not even the first time this season the disciplinary system has fallen apart. It’s been happening all year. You go back to the Morelos red card at Aberdeen being overturned, the Mikey Devlin sending off, Gary Dicker, Allan McGregor kicking out at Kris Ajer, the list is going on and on.“The buffoonery of the beaks is off the scale and the lot of them should resign in shame. The bungling referees, the ex-ref old boys network, the compliance officer – clearly none of them are fit for purpose.“They should all walk for being completely stupid. It doesn’t matter if it’s a player for Rangers, Celtic or whoever, right-minded people have a handle on what is right and wrong.“Beaton will have had the chance to watch the incidents again, slow them down and analyse them properly.“To come away with the same conclusion is beyond belief and the SFA should have the ability to step in and deal with the situation properly if the referee is unwilling or unable to take the responsibility.”"

Do you agree with Chris Sutton’s scathing attacking on the Scottish FA and claims of a ‘stitch-up’? Is it corruption or just cowardice and incompetence from referee John Beaton? What do you make of Celtic’s silence on the matter?