Dundee United are furious at what they perceive to be selective trial by TV of their defender Gavin Gunning.
The Tangerines’ centre half was issued with a notice of complaint yesterday by SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny for allegedly kicking out at Celtic player Virgil van Dijk during the Premiership match between the sides at Tannadice on Saturday.
Gunning, who had just returned to the team following suspension, wasn’t punished at the time by referee Crawford Allan but the incident was shown then replayed in close-up on the BBC’s Sportscene programme on Sunday night.
What is really angering United is that they believe it is the TV coverage rather than the referee’s report from the game that has resulted in Gunning being cited.
They also point to incidents involving Celtic players Scott Brown and Joe Ledley that likewise didn’t result in yellow or red cards but weren’t in the Sportscene highlights package.
It is no surprise, therefore, that they are appealing against the complaint and manager Jackie McNamara will accompany his player to the hearing at Hampden.
It will cost the Tangerines £1,000 to contest the charge but they feel they can’t just accept a scenario where a player’s disciplinary fate depends on whether or not the TV highlights show deems an alleged offence worthy of debate.
Gunning had been offered a three-match
suspension if he accepted the citation, which the club felt was draconian.
The notice of complaint alleges: “Violent conduct by kicking or attempting to kick an opposing player, namely Virgil van Dijk, during the above match.”
The United party will be joined at the national stadium by Dundee boss John Brown, who is contesting two separate notices of complaint.
The first accuses Brown of “not acting in the best interests of association football by making public comments of an insulting nature in a newspaper interview accusing Robert Douglas,
former goalkeeper at Dundee FC, of telling lies” and is dated as in or around June 6.
The second complaint is of a two-fold nature, alleging breaches of rules 82 and 86.
Dating both alleged offences on or around August 5, Brown is accused of breaking the first rule “by making offensive comments in a newspaper interview suggesting the use of violence.”
The Dens manager is also accused of “not acting in the best interests of association football by making comments in a newspaper interview suggesting the use of violence.”