Celtic cite 'huge embarrassment' after Rangers' Jon Flanagan escapes ban
- Published
Monday jury: Should Flanagan's yellow have been a red?
Celtic have described the decision not to further punish Rangers' Jon Flanagan for elbowing captain Scott Brown in Sunday's Old Firm derby as a "huge embarrassment for Scottish football".
Flanagan, 26, was booked after the incident in the Ibrox side's 2-0 win but was charged after a three-man panel decided it was a red-card offence.
Rangers said they would "vigorously defend" Flanagan.
And, at a hearing on Thursday, an independent panel dismissed the case.
It means the former England international is available for Rangers' Scottish Premiership trip to Kilmarnock on Sunday.
"This whole matter is a huge embarrassment for Scottish football," said Celtic spokesperson.
After the notice of complaint was issued to Flanagan on Tuesday, Rangers issued a statement in which they cited a separate incident from the derby involving Jermain Defoe and Celtic's Jozo Simunovic.
"We cannot understand how these two incidents could be studied yet only one be considered worthy of punishment," the statement read.
"It seems as if Rangers' players are being held to a different code of conduct from players at other clubs."
Speaking after Flanagan avoid a suspension, an Ibrox spokesman said: "Obviously we have concerns about the process but we are happy that the correct decision has been upheld."