BRENDAN RODGERS will be in the Celtic dug-out for the Old Firm clash at Ibrox on April 7.
The Hoops boss was facing a two-game touchline ban for branding VAR official John Beaton incompetent.
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But Rodgers pleaded his case at a SFA hearing this lunchtime, backed by top KC Nick De Marco.
And the outcome is a ONE-MATCH penalty – with another game suspended – meaning he’ll be in the stand for this weekend’s league clash with Livingston.
Crucially, Rodgers will then be free to take his place in the dug-out against Rangers a week on Sunday.
Rodgers was accused of breaching Rule 72 Article 96.1 of the SFA’s disciplinary code after losing 2-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle on March 3.
In his post-match press conference he slammed two major decisions which saw Hoops midfielder Yang Hyun-jun sent off and Tomoki Iwata concede a controversial spot-kick.
He said: “I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt.
“But I think when I see that level of incompetence, which is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game.
“In such a tight title race that can make the difference. I also think that VAR is not the problem here.
“That’s clear. It’s competence.
“The first one is the sending off when there is no force.
“Show a still image of that and of course and you will see a foot up with the head near it, but it’s not the reality of the move. Don got it actually right on the field. It was a high boot, so it’s a yellow card – no malice or force.
“For John Beaton to actually look at that in VAR, supposedly under no pressure, and say that was sending off? I find that incredible.
“The second one is worse. If you have a penalty go against you for that then there will be penalties every single weekend and midweek.”
Rodgers doubled-down on his comments and vowed to challenge the SFA charge, bringing in top London KC Nick De Marco to act as his legal representative.
They fought to have Rodgers cleared completely.
But the SFA’s panel decided on a one-game ban with a further one game suspended.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Former Partick Thistle boss Gary Caldwell and ex-Hearts manager Robbie Neilson were previously been hit with the same ban for similar charges.
Although they didn’t specifically brand any match official incompetent.