FORMER Scottish FA compliance officer Vincent Lunny has hit back at Rangers’ criticism of the disciplinary process that led to Bruno Alves being handed a two-match ban.
The Portugese defender was given the suspension on Tuesday for allegedly kicking out at Motherwell striker Louis Moult during the Light Blues’ 2-0 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat on Sunday.
However, Steelmen forward Ryan Bowman avoided punishment despite breaking the nose of Gers defender Fabio Cardoso with his elbow.
Read more: 'That's rubbish': Celtic legend Chris Sutton hits back at Rangers statement on Bruno Alves ban
Rangers were furious at the decision and released a statement calling it ‘devoid of credibility and balance’ and suggesting the disciplinary system ‘requires radical overhaul.’
But Lunny, who preceded current incumbent Tony McGlennan as compliance officer between 2011 and 2014, explained to BBC Scotland that the system in place remains effective.
"The compliance officer's role is to be as dispassionate as possible,” he said.
"The job is to look at all the incidents in a match and decide what you can actually prove before the panel.
"Where it becomes difficult in a match with a number of incidents is deciding which ones haven't been seen by the officials
“Once that hurdle is cleared, then it's about deciding if they are sending off offences."
He added: "Tempers flare after high profile or difficult matches. It's a case of reviewing the evidence but you [the compliance officer] are not taking a decision.
"It's a panel of three independent judges who will then decide whether or not Alves breached rule 200 and if there's been a missed sending off offence.
Read more: Rangers hit out at Scottish FA after Bruno Alves offered ban and Ryan Bowman escapes punishment
"The English FA have a panel of three ex-referees who refer incidents to their panel but that is more time consuming and a lot more expensive."
The failure to dismiss Bowman aggrieved many Rangers fans after an aerial tussle with Cardoso forced the Portuguese off with a broken nose, while the striker avoided a second booking.
Moult was also left with a cut to his face following a clash with Cardoso in a physical encounter at Hampden Park.
"I can only assume that it [the Bowman elbow] has been assessed because it is so high profile,” said Lunny.
"The question is: is it violent conduct or serious foul play with excessive force or brutality, or was it simply reckless?
"You can't take retrospective action for reckless action, which would be a caution.
"You can't look at the outcome. The fact that his nose is broken is dreadful but that's not indicative of the quality of the action from Bowman. I suspect it's been viewed as reckless."
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