The SFA have moved to clarify comments made by Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes over Kyle Lafferty 's potential ban – insisting the club opted not to move the hearing date forward.
The Northern Ireland international withdrew from his national side's camp last month after an alleged sectarian incident occurred while Ian Baraclough's side were out for a 'team bonding session.' Kilmarnock announced soon after the video emerged online that they would be investigating the matter surrounding the former Rangers striker, and he has been punished by the club. While Lafferty awaits punishment he featured for Killie against St Johnstone, with the hearing over breaching two SFA rules to take place on October 20.
Following the Scottish Premiership clash McInnes defended the decision to play the striker stating that he had "not been banned" and that "it's not the club's fault or Kyle's fault that the SFA haven't banned him" when speaking to Sky Sports. He added: 'It would have been nice if it was dealt with at the time."
The SFA statement read: "Following the latest comments from Derek McInnes regarding the notice of complaint issued to Kyle Lafferty, the Scottish FA seeks to clarify that the club were offered the opportunity, under rule 10.2.5 of the Judicial Panel Protocol, to bring forward the date of the hearing from October 20 but declined to do so.
"The timescales applied under the Judicial Panel Protocol are intended to give those issued with a Notice of Complaint appropriate time to respond to the charge(s) and fully consider their case prior to the hearing date."
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