Steven Gerrard is unhappy with Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke’s comments about a potential ban for Jermain Defoe.
Clarke, one of Gerrard’s former coaches at Liverpool, wants the Scottish Football Association compliance officer to show consistency and deliver the same punishment for Defoe for an alleged dive as Jordan Jones received earlier this season.
Defoe was awarded a penalty – one of four they got from referee Andrew Dallas – in a 4-0 win over St Mirren on Saturday.
And Clarke feels both penalty incidents involving Defoe and Jones were identical.
He said: “One of our players was suspended for two games for going to ground too easily earlier in the season. There was a media furore – a witch hunt against the player.
“There’s been nothing on the same scale from Saturday’s game, Rangers versus St Mirren. Hopefully the compliance officer will do her job.
“I just want consistency. So if our player gets a two-game ban, I look forward to seeing what happens this week.”
And Rangers boss Gerrard hit back at Clarke’s comments.
He said: “I was very surprised by Steve’s comments, first and foremost because it’s got absolutely nothing to do with Steve Clarke or Kilmarnock.
“We didn’t punish Jordan Jones, we didn’t give the Kilmarnock player a two-game ban, so why he’s trying to get one of my players banned, is a surprise and a disappointment.
“Because that’s not the type of guy I know Steve Clarke for. He is usually first class, the dealings I had with him as a player when he used to coach me, and since I’ve been at Rangers.
“So I was very surprised by his comments and I don’t think there’s any need for them at all.”
Meanwhile, Carlos Pena has officially left Rangers after his contract was terminated.
The Mexican midfielder scored five goals in 14 matches for Rangers after being signed by Pedro Caixinha in a big-money move in June 2017, but largely struggled to adapt to the pace of Scottish football.
He went on loan in January last year to Cruz Azul – where he was reunited with Caixinha – but the deal was cut short because of alcohol-related discipline problems.
The 28-year-old reportedly spent time in rehab before joining Necaxa on loan, but that deal was also cut short late last year and Pena did not rejoin his Rangers team-mates.
A Rangers statement read: “We can confirm that Carlos Pena is no longer a Rangers player. His contract has been terminated. We wish him the best for his future.”