Celtic attack Scottish FA after Scott Brown appeal is rejected

Celtic have launched another attack on the Scottish Football Association, saying they are "amazed" with the governing body's decision not to uphold an appeal over Scott Brown's sending off in last weekend's Old Firm game. Brown has been handed a three-match suspension after the referee Dougie McDonald decided against referring his decision to dismiss the Celtic captain – who was accused of violent conduct after he clashed with Rangers' Kyle Lafferty – to an independent review panel. In reaction to the failed appeal, a Celtic spokesman said today: "We are amazed at this decision and believe it is the wrong one. Given the general consensus that the initial decision was incorrect and the availability of supporting video evidence, at the very least, the incident should have been referred to a separate review panel." A Celtic statement issued on Sunday night had said any "fair-minded person" could see the red card was issued in error, a choice of words which will be discussed next month by the SFA's general purposes committee. The club had already planned talks with the SFA over what they perceive as a series of unjust refereeing decisions against them this season. It is understood Celtic are also unhappy that news of McDonald's decision reached the media before the club was given ample time to consider the news. Nonetheless, and by Celtic's own admission, there is no further recourse for them to take the matter further. Brown will sit out Sunday's trip to Falkirk followed by Celtic's league matches against St Johnstone and St Mirren. Tony Mowbray, the Celtic manager, has taken a less hardline stance on refereeing matters when pressed in public. It remains to be seen whether he speaks out regarding the individual case of Brown when meeting the media once again on Saturday.