There has been plenty of talk that Rangers should expect a seven game ban to be issued to three first team players later today.
This comes following the Scottish FA charging five Ibrox players for allegedly breaching covid regulations, having been reprimanded internally by Rangers chiefs.
Back in November, it was a seven game ban that came the way of Jordan Jones and George Edmundson – following their misdemeanors.
However, some things have changed since the turn of the year and other incidents have came and gone, effectively setting a precedent for less punitive action on covid related issues.
Crucially, the Scottish FA will need to consider a pandemic breach of their own responsibility – following Bobby Madden’s referee team trip to Athens as the men in the middle between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
As previously reported by Sky Sports:
“The Scottish FA has apologised to Hibernian and Hamilton after it emerged an official involved in their Scottish Premiership game at Easter Road on Saturday should have been self-isolating.”
“Assistant referee Graeme Stewart ran the line in Hibs’ 2-0 win despite being identified as a close contact of colleague David Roome, who had tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday after returning from a game in Greece last weekend.”
“Stewart and Roome had assisted referee Bobby Madden in last Sunday’s Athens derby between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos.”
Back then in February, Madden was pulled from duty just hours before he was due to officiate between Ross County and Celtic at Dingwall.
SFA chief exec Ian Maxwell also commented, “”I have tonight apologised for the unnecessary risk of having an assistant referee at a match when he should have been self-isolating, however much it is mitigated by two negative tests in the build-up to the match.”
In January, there was also the ambiguous situation of Celtic’s Shane Duffy leaving their ill-fated Dubai camp to return home to Northern Ireland – leaving the club bubble – only to immediately be put straight back into the starting line-up to face Hibs, despite Celtic’s confirmation of a negative covid test.
With all of the above considered, the seven game ban may not be the forgone conclusion that some are expecting.
Further news on the hearing is anticipated later this evening.