CELTIC assistant-manager Chris Davies yesterday joined the lengthy queue of people within the game baffled by the SFA’s refusal to punish Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor for thrusting his studs into Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer during the champions’ 1-0 win over their rivals at Parkhead on Sunday.

A judicial panel of former referees chose not to take the matter any further. For a player to be sanctioned (and McGregor would have been looking at a two-match ban for violent conduct), a unanimous verdict of guilty is required.

Monday’s tribunal did not provide that, although whether one, two or all three of its members decided that McGregor did not warrant a suspension has not been disclosed.

Match official Willie Collum and his assistant did not notice McGregor lashing out at Ajer and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard admitted afterwards that the veteran was lucky not to have been sent off.

Davies cannot understand how McGregor has escaped punishment but claimed that his over-riding emotion was relief that Ajer had not been injured.

"I was surprised,” he said. "From my point of view, I was just pleased that our player wasn't injured in the game.

"It's one of those and it was discussed a lot afterwards. Everybody said quite clearly what they thought about the incident.

"Generally, the aggression, physicality and intensity of the British game - and Scotland in particular - is one of it's greatest assets.

"But this incident wasn't natural aggression or competing in that way. This was something isolated and different to that.

"Physicality is part of football and we would be the first people to say we want that to remain but this is a different incident we are discussing.”

Davies, however, chose not to question a system where former referees sit in judgement of their friends and colleagues.

"For me, you could see what the goalkeeper did - it was quite obvious,” he said. "But the people looking at it will come to the decision they think is right.

"What can we do about that? It's done. We can't worry about and focus on Allan McGregor,”

Celtic yesterday announced their 25-man squad for the six Europa League group phase matches and among those to miss out were German centre-back Marvin Compper and Australia winger Daniel Arzani, a recent arrival on loan from Manchester City.

“Daniel has been basically only in training with us for two weeks and it’s been kind of a broken two weeks at that, with the games that we’ve had,” said Davies.

“He’s building up his physical condition and he isn’t up to speed yet. He’s a young player adapting to a completely new environment but he has a two-year loan and there’s plenty of time for him to develop and grow at the club.

“It’s important - especially the way we play - that players are reaching a real intense physical level and he will have all the support to do that here.

“Being at he World Cup has delayed some players and that’s been a consideration with Daniel’s position. Marvin hasn’t been involved with the squads, even when he has been available and manager Brendan Rodgers] is aware of where he is at.

"With all the players, it starts on the training field and that is where you build it from. The manager has spoken to Marvin on more than one occasion and he is managing that situation with the player.”

Davies also praised manager Brendan Rodgers for keeping a cool head during a troubled August, when the Irishman experienced his first period at Parkhead when where everything was not running smoothly.

“He has a calm temperament and he’s always had that, right back to when he was coaching me [at Reading in 2004],” he said.

“That doesn’t mean he wants to win any less but that calmness is a real benefit in high-pressure games.

“To be honest, though, the feeling for me before the match at the weekend was no different from any other time we’ve played Rangers, whether it’s in the league or a cup semi-final.

“I remember all those games, going back to the first time we ever played them, and each one has been significant. Speaking personally, I didn’t feel under any more pressure going into the latest one.”

Chris Davies was speaking to promote the fund-raising Match For Cancer at Parkhead on Saturday, where teams managed by Rodgers and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp will compete while raising money for research into the disease.