JOHN KENNEDY insists the SFA are CRAZY to charge Ryan Christie for grabbing Alfredo Morelos where it hurts.
Christie stands accused of deliberately injuring the Rangers’ striker by swiping at his privates during last weekend’s Old Firm clash.
The incident wasn’t spotted by referee Kevin Clancy at the time — but Christie is now facing up to the prospect of a two-match ban at a disciplinary hearing set for Hampden on Monday.
Hoops No 2 Kennedy has slammed the decision to charge the midfielder.
Kennedy said: “I didn’t know about it until later when somebody told me. I find it very surprising.
“The incident itself? I have seen these situations before, what they are trying to accuse him of if you are static in the box at a corner kick and are marking somebody and you do a fly one.
“But to be involved in the game and somebody goes by you, to accuse him of trying to grab him by the genitals is crazy.
“Ryan is not that type of player for a start. He has genuinely gone in and he goes by him.
“What naturally happens is you try to grab something. It just so happens that it was what it was.
“I would be astounded if he is found guilty of it and they follow through with the charge.
“If that is the case then there will be numerous cases throughout the season where somebody grabs or accidentally touches somebody.
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“You can see with the speed of the game your first reaction is sometimes to grab the first thing that goes by you.
“That is what happened. Ryan is not that type of player and I will be very, very surprised — astonished actually — if anything comes of it.
“You have to take the person into consideration here. Ryan is not that type of player at all.
“If you put it into the context of the game and what is happening at that time, somebody has gone past him.
“At the time, nothing was made of it. Morelos didn’t make anything of it to Ryan or anybody else about him.
“I think that speaks volumes in itself.”
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Ironically, Christie picked up a groin injury of his own during the game which required him to undergo surgery.
Kennedy added: “He had a little setback, but he obviously had that dealt with quickly so hopefully it won’t keep him out for too long.
“He will miss the bulk of the week here in Dubai, but hopefully once we get back he won’t miss too many games.
“It will be touch and go for the first game, but it will be weeks rather than months. Hopefully he will be okay.”
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