Gers accept Naismith suspension

26 September 2011 17:14
Steven Naismith will serve an immediate two-match ban after Rangers accepted a fixed suspension from the Scottish Football Association.[LNB] Naismith was retrospectively punished after television footage appeared to show him catching Austin McCann on the face with an elbow during Saturday's 4-0 win over Dunfermline.[LNB]Naismith - who went on to score two goals in the SPL victory at East End Park - will miss Tuesday's game against Kilmarnock and the visit of Hibernian at the weekend.[LNB]The incident was missed by referee Iain Brines and played down by McCann afterwards, who said he believed the flashpoint was accidental and revealed Naismith immediately offered an apology.[LNB]However, the Scottish champions today received a Notice of Complaint from the SFA in connection with the incident and, according to a statement on the club's official website, decided to accept the two-match ban for violent conduct after reviewing video footage.[LNB]The statement read: "Rangers Football Club today received a Notification of Complaint from the SFA in connection with an incident involving Steven Naismith and Austin McCann at Saturday's SPL match against Dunfermline.[LNB]"After reviewing video footage, the club has decided to accept the Fixed Suspension and as such the player will miss the next two SPL matches - against Kilmarnock tomorrow evening and Hibernian at the weekend.[LNB]"Steven has already had an apology accepted by Austin McCann and admits there was no deliberate intent to make contact with the player at East End Park.[LNB]"As manager Ally McCoist stated at today's pre-Kilmarnock press conference, Rangers supports the new SFA fast-track process for dealing with disciplinary matters and trusts it will be applied fairly across all clubs."[LNB]A statement from the SFA read: "The player was offered a two-match suspension, which is equivalent to the automatic suspension that would have applied had the referee reported this offence.[LNB]"The player has accepted the suspension offered. Accordingly, the case will not require to be determined by a Fast Track Tribunal.[LNB]"The suspension applies immediately to the club's next two first team matches, irrespective of competition."

Source: Team_Talk