Retrospective punishments go with the Old Firm territory

Lee McCulloch has no grounds for complaint as his ban for stamping was upheld.

Sometimes doing the right thing can have unfortunate consequences.

Back when I was SFA Chief Executive, I used to hear lots of arguments against players being subject to retrospective punishments.

In particular, people would tell me a compliance system which we now use would be unfair to Rangers and Celtic players.

The number of televised games featuring the Old Firm meant their misdemeanours would get highlighted more than those from any of the provincial clubs.

As a result, the treatment they received over the course of a season would be disproportionately harsh.

I said then, and I believe it holds true today, players from those two Glasgow greats will always have an additional responsibility in terms of their behaviour.

It goes with the territory.

They are fortunate in that they get to play their football in front of crowds of 40,000-plus. Lucky too, to play in games blessed by so much media attention.

But the flip side is they have to be prepared for the down side of that extra scrutiny.

Misbehave when you are playing for Celtic or Rangers and you are going to hear all about it.

Lee McCulloch is the latest man in the spotlight, having received a two-game ban after being found guilty of stamping on Raith Rovers midfielder, Dale Carrick.

The Light Blues defender had originally been offered a two-game ban by the SFA’s Compliance Officer, Tony McGlennan, but chose to contest the violent conduct charge.

There are people who feel that was harsh.

Accepting the player’s argument he had lost his balance, they reckoned he was actually being penalised for elbowing Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths during the Old Firm game the previous week.

Personally, I don’t think Lee has any grounds for complaint. He has been a great player over the years and, as a Rangers man, will have been as frustrated as anyone by the club’s struggles of late.

But that doesn’t give him licence to flout the Laws of the Game. If it did, then all other players would argue why shouldn’t they be allowed to behave the same way.

Examples need to be set for fair play to flourish, and the punishment of high-profile stars definitely sends out a message.

Actually I think it is the country’s referees who have lost out under the compliance system. Seeing incidents they have missed being pursued retrospectively has led to harsh critiques of their performances.

It is unfair. They do their best and the system is there to help them, not to help judge them.