Decision day for Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos

The Rangers striker was booked after planting his forearm into the Irishman’s face during the early stages of the Premiership leaders’ 2-1 win at Tannadice on Sunday.

The incident left United boss Micky Mellon fuming on the touchline, while former Gers manager Ally McCoist branded the Colombian’s actions ‘crazy’ during his commentary duties for Sky Sports.

However, Light Blues boss Steven Gerrard insisted the matter should be considered closed after referee Steven McLean deemed the 12th-minute offence only worthy of a yellow card.

But under the Scottish Football Association’s disciplinary rules, compliance officer Clare Whyte can take further action so long as it is ruled to be “exceptional in nature”.

Those powers fall under the SFA’s fast-track procedures, meaning Whyte has until 3pm on Tuesday afternoon to make her decision.

Speaking after his side’s win, Gerrard shot down claims Morelos – who has been sent off seven times since moving to Ibrox in 2017 – had elbowed Connolly.

“I didn’t see an elbow,” he insisted. “If you look at him again, there’s no elbow there. The referee saw it and dealt with it.

“It was a foul and a yellow card and it’s been dealt with. But if you look at it again, next time I see you you’ll say it wasn’t an elbow.”

Whyte has acted to upgrade yellow cards to red on four occasions over the past two seasons.

Hamilton midfielder Darian MacKinnon was given a two-match ban back in October 2018 after having a heavy challenge on Kilmarnock’s Alan Power reviewed.

On-loan Leicester defender Darnell Johnson was booked on his Hibs debut at Celtic Park in February last year after going in over the ball on Hoops full-back Emilio Izaguirre – only to then receive a two-game retrospective punishment.

St Mirren’s Greg Tansey was also given a belated suspension three weeks later after initially picking up a caution for a dangerous tackle on Hearts’ Clevid Dikamona.

And Motherwell full-back Jake Carroll saw his yellow card for a foul on Livingston’s Nicky Devlin upgraded to a red in August last year after Whyte again decided the referee’s on-field decision did not go far enough.

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