Celtic's Ryan Christie thought SFA charge was a 'wind-up' | OneFootball

Ryan Christie has said he initially thought the SFA charge that led to him receiving a three-game suspension was a “joke”.

The Celtic midfielder was found guilty of grabbing Alfredo Morelos in the groin area after the Rangers striker had gone past him during the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on December 29.

Three former referees adjudicating on the matter decided that the incident warranted a red card for violent conduct, with two believing brutality was also involved.

Christie rejects that there was any intention on his part.

“When I first heard about it I thought it was a joke,” Christie is quoted as saying by the Daily Record.

“A mate sent me a screenshot and I honestly thought it was a wind-up.

“I couldn’t even remember the incident – I said that to the panel during the hearing as well.

“I didn’t even realise where I had grabbed at the time. It wasn’t until I watched the footage back that I realised my hand had gone there.”

Christie didn’t argue with a suggestion that a lack of playing experience on the panel’s part may have been a factor in the decision.

“That’s it. Other people have spoken about that before, in terms of trying to get more football-based people on these panels.

“But that’s not really up to me to decide – there would be talk then of people being biased and all that.

“Hopefully it’s in the past now – and it’s my last suspension of the season.”

The Bhoys, who lead the Scottish Premiership by 10 points from Rangers, travel to Pittodrie to face third-placed Aberdeen on Sunday.