Hi °C | Lo °C Scott Brown has described missing the final Old Firm derby of the season due to the Scottish Football Association's unusual disciplinary procedures as a "nightmare".
The Celtic midfielder picked up his sixth caution of the season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League against Falkirk last week — his 22nd yellow card in two seasons.
Due to the SFA's cumulative punishment system, which takes previous offences into account, Brown will serve a two-game ban.
That rules him out of the May 9 game against Rangers, which has been scheduled for the second weekend after the SPL splits in to two.
"It's a bit of a nightmare because I've been done for what I did last season," said Brown (pictured).
"You think, ‘Surely to God, that was last season and it's over and done with and you start afresh this season’, but it doesn't work like that.
"I spoke to a few of the lads and they said that it might change next season but we will see how it goes. I thought the Old Firm game might have been scheduled for the first game after the split but hopefully it doesn't matter.
"The gaffer will put out a strong team anyway.
"I knew if I picked up another booking I would be banned.
"It was 10 or 11 games since I had picked up my last one so I was trying not to mistime my tackles.
"That has been hard but I have been tackling quite well — which is a change."
Brown refused to become embroiled in the saga surrounding Scotland team mates Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor, which took another twist yesterday.
Brown, along with three other Scotland players, were alleged also to have been drinking at Scotland's Cameron House Hotel base in Loch Lomond but had reportedly gone to their rooms earlier.
Brown would only issue a "no comment" when the subject was broached.
