Rangers furious as Flanagan handed retrospective ban

Former Liverpool defender Flanagan faces a two-game ban for an elbow on Celtic captain Scott Brown as Rangers won the Glasgow derby 2-0 on Sunday.

Flanagan was only shown a yellow card for the incident by referee Kevin Clancy. Rangers can accept the punishment or challenge it at a hearing on Thursday. However, the Gers hit out at the disciplinary process that also saw goalkeeper Allan McGregor banned earlier in the season for a late challenge on Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson.

"It is particularly shocking that another Rangers player has been singled out for retrospective action and issued with a notice of complaint, while Jozo Simunovic, the Celtic player who used an elbow to fell Jermain Defoe, has escaped any kind of censure," Rangers said in a statement to the Press Association.

"It seems as if Rangers' players are being held to a different code of conduct from players at other clubs. We shall vigorously defend Mr Flanagan and have also asked for full transparency on what matters are brought forward for retrospective action. Are those decisions being made even-handedly?"

Rangers have been shown 12 red cards in all competitions during Gerrard's debut season in charge. Celtic caretaker manager Neil Lennon claimed ahead of his side's defeat at Ibrox that Rangers have a "huge disciplinary problem" and insisted afterwards that Flanagan should have been sent-off.

"It's a red card again," said Lennon. "How the referee has not given that as a red card I don't know. It's an elbow into his face."