Hibs boss Lee Johnson insists the Scottish FA need to have a good look at themselves over the Rocky Bushiri suspension saga. The Leith side were left red faced in midweek after it turned out that the defender should not have played in Wednesday’s Premier Sports Cup penalty shoot out defeat to Morton.
Cup organisers the SPFL awarded a 3-0 result to Ton but in the end that outcome had no bearing over Hibs’ failure to reach the last 16 of the competition. To make matters worse the SFA then issued Bushiri with a notice of complaint over an alleged breach of rule 208.
While Johnson concedes that club need to sort out their own hour over the admin blunder, the ex-Sunderland manager also believes the SFA should have an automatic flagging system - something that is in place south of the border - when it comes to player suspensions. Elgin City and Stranraer have also been penalised by the SPFL for fielding suspended players in the group sections.
Johnson who watched his team beat Norwich City 1-0 yesterday in their final warm-up game after Elias Melkersen found the net, said: “I think the Scottish FA have a lot to have a look at themselves at to be honest with you.
“I’ve come up from England and I’m looking at no fourth official in a game like today.
“They should have a flagging system, it wasn’t just us that have got done by that, it was three or four clubs.
“In England there is an extra net system that if there is a suspension pending there is a flag that comes up and everybody within the football club gets notified.
“It’s not difficult to do that, it’s just admin. At the same time we’ve got to take responsibility, first on a football level then on an administration level.
"This is a top league in a top country and we need to sharpen up a little bit.”
Hibs went into the Canaries clash without ten players due to injury and work permit issues and Johnson then lost Aiden McGeady after 19 minutes due to a knee issue.
He added: “He felt his knee, he tried to chop inside and the guy caught him a little bit on the ankle and he felt the joint open up.
“That happens – sometimes you can run it off and sometimes it takes four or five days. He felt a sharp pain but hopefully it won’t keep him out."
The visitors named a completely different side to the team that fell to a 2-0 defeat to Celtic 24 hours earlier. Despite Hibs’ own personnel concerns the hosts look bright during the early exchanges and could have taken the lead in the 29th minute.
A teasing cross from Euan Henderson was headed straight out to Melkersen but the Norwegian did not have enough time to set himself and could only fire his half-volley wide from 12 yards.
But Melkersen was on hand give the hosts the lead five minutes later. Joe Newell’s cross was knocked down by Christian Doidge and Melkersen pounced inside the six yard box to divert the ball past Angus Gunn.
Hibs’ second half XI was effectively their development team as Johnson made some eight changes at the break. But the youngsters gave as good as they got and Hibs still created the better chances towards the end - Robbie Hamilton, Momodou Bojang and Christian Doidge all having efforts inside the area.
READ NEXT
