TOMMY WRIGHT, the St Johnstone manager, last night accused the SFA of subjecting his team to 'trial by Sportscene' after James McFadden became the third member of his panel to fall foul of recently installed SFA Compliance Officer Tony McGlennan.
The former Scotland striker is facing a three-game ban after being accused of making an "offensive gesture" to Hamilton Academical supporters after his sending-off in Sunday's Premiership defeat at New Douglas Park. The one-time Motherwell hero appeared to react to abuse being hurled in his direction from goading fans of their Lanarkshire rivals as he headed up the tunnel.
The Perth club are unlikely to appeal the latest SFA rap but frustrated manager Tommy Wright fears his club are coming in for particularly unfair treatment after previously losing winger Lee Croft and striker Brian Graham to retrospective disciplinary action after incidents were flagged up on the BBC highlights programme.
"I recall Stuart McCall saying in 2012 that we had to guard against 'trial by Sportscene' and three years on I would echo his views," said Wright.
"The Compliance Officer no doubt takes his information from all sorts of sources and quite rightly television is one of them - but it seems that some things and not others are highlighted by the BBC and I would hate to think the cases taken on by the SFA are essentially down to what the BBC editor thinks is fit to show.
"There has to be a consistency of application across not just the Premiership but all levels of the game - it can't just be the ones highlighted in a television programme."
"I feel very sorry for James. I can't condone the gesture but he received plenty of stick from the away support throughout the game on Sunday but he ends up the one being punished."
Referee Andrew Dallas cautioned McFadden twice for fouls, dismissing him six minutes from the end of the 1-0 defeat after he tangled with Hamilton sub Eamonn Brophy. Earlier, he had fouled Accies winger Dougie Imrie. Wright lamented the fact that those were McFadden's only fouls of the game.
The initial red card meant he would automatically miss Saints next game with Partick Thistle. But now the former Scotland ace has been "offered" an additional two-game ban by the compliance officer.
Wright maintained referee Dallas should have spotted an initial obstruction by Brophy before McFadden reacted. He also noted: "James had a lot to deal with" and Perth teammate Simon Lappin claimed the veteran striker was a "marked man."
The Perth club have until this afternoon to appeal the additional suspension or McFadden will also sit out Premiership games with high flying Inverness and Aberdeen.
Last month Croft was cited for a foul missed by the referee in a Perth clash with Ross County and Graham also picked up a two-match ban for diving to win a spot-kick in the win over Inverness Caley Thistle.
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