Celtic boss Mowbray calls for change to SFA appeals process after Scott Brown decision

CELTIC manager Tony Mowbray has called for the Scottish Football Association's appeals process to be changed after the Parkhead club failed in its bid to have Scott Brown's red card reversed.

• Scott Brown and Kyle Lafferty become involved in a scuffle during Sunday's Old Firm match

The Scotland international was sent off for violent conduct after head-butting Rangers' Kyle Lafferty in the chest during Sunday's heated Old Firm derby.

The SFA yesterday threw out the appeal after referee Dougie McDonald reviewed footage of the incident and decided to stand by his decision.

Sunday's red card took Brown over the disciplinary points total allowed for the season meaning he is out of Celtic's next three matches.

• Poll: Were the SFA correct to reject Celtic's appeal over Scott Brown's red card?

The 24-year-old will now miss his side's match against Falkirk on Sunday, the St Johnstone encounter on March 20 and the St Mirren game at on March 24.

Celtic issued a statement on their club website yesterday saying they were "amazed" at the decision.

Tony Mowbray continued the dispute with the SFA today by branding the appeals process as "strange".

Speaking before Sunday's trip to Falkirk, manager Mowbray said: "Having watched it back, my own personal view is that it wasn't a sending off.

"But was it an appeal? We didn't appear to get an appeal in the true sense of the word.

"The referee who made the decision on the day looks at it and decides if he gets it right, that's the end of the matter.

"I was unaware of the appeals decision in Scotland and it seems a strange appeals system.

"It seems strange that we can't go to someone else and look at it and make a decision, not from a referee's angle, not from the club's angle but just an unbiased look.

"It seems a strange decision but we have to abide by it."

Rangers manager Walter Smith said today that he would be against any change to the appeals process and said that there "was no great need for change".

"That's the way it is, with the referee having the final decision after looking at it again," said Smith.

"We had the same thing with Kenny Miller after he got sent off against Dundee United earlier in the season.

"I do think, if a referee goes in and has a look at it and is honest enough about it, that's sufficient.

"I don't think there is any great need for a change. I don't think a referee will be frightened to change his mind if he sees that he's wrong."

"Our defensive record has been good and he has been a big part of that.

"You don't go through games without asking your goalie to make saves at important times and he has managed to do that. He has been terrific for us over the season