RANGERS were last night left seething after the SFA added to their fixture pile-up.
The Ibrox side had hoped the authorities would see the sense in allowing them to replay their Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Hibs tomorrow night but the SFA have refused.
A meeting of the emergency committee yesterday pencilled in two possible dates for the replay at Ibrox but either one will lead to a hectic schedule in March for Walter Smith's side.
Smith insists playing the game this week would have been in everyone's interest as the SPL continues to struggle to fit in a number of postponed matches.
The Rangers boss said: "I am surprised. If the SFA had agreed to Wednesday they would also help Hibs, who have a number of outstanding matches.
"It seems this is a missed opportunity at a difficult time for everyone. But the ruling is made and we'll get on with it."
The game will go ahead in the week beginning March 3 if Rangers are knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Panathinaikos, who they entertain in the first leg next week.
If Rangers do progress to the last 16 in Europe the replay will take place on quarter-final day, Saturday March 8.
The backlog could have a serious impact on Rangers' title hopes with dates still to be fixed for trips to Celtic and St Mirren.
Smith's men also need to reschedule their game against Motherwell at Fir Park due to their involvement in the CIS Cup Final on Sunday March 16.
Hibs are also down to play Motherwell in a rearranged league match on Wednesday March 5 but that game will be postponed if Rangers crash out of Europe as the Scottish Cup takes priority over the SPL. The Easter Road outfit had originally agreed to play the tie tomorrow night but changed their mind when boss Mixu Paatelainen realised he had eight players on international duty this week.
Hibs have four players in the Scotland Under-21 squad and a further three in the Under-19s while keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay has been called up by Belgium.
Paatelainen said: "We couldn't play the game this week because it's an international week and Rangers' commitments prevented us playing the tie next week.
"I don't have a problem with either of the new dates."
Rangers have seven players at the Scotland get-together, which finishes tomorrow, while Steven Naismith, Steve Davis and Brahim Hemdani are on international duty but Smith didn't see that as an obstacle to the game being played.
The winners of the tie will face either Partick or Livingston in the last eight on Wednesday March 19.
Victory for Rangers over Panathinaikos would also set up a two-legged clash with Germans Werder Bremen or Portuguese outfit Braga in the first two weeks of March.
Meanwhile, Rangers have appealed against the red card shown to Allan McGregor during Sunday's clash at Easter Road.
McGregor was sent off after referee Craig Thomson judged he had fouled Dean Shiels on the edge of the box.
The keeper and Smith felt the decision was incorrect, claiming McGregor reached the ball ahead of Shiels, and after viewing video footage the club have appealed.
If the ordering off is quashed the Rangers No.1 will be eligible to take his place between the sticks when the sides meet again.
The SFA are still awaiting official confirmation of Rangers' appeal but have revealed that any case will be heard before the replay.
An SFA spokesman said: "If an appeal is forthcoming then the SFA would aim to dispose of the club's next match in the Scottish Cup competition.
"There does not appear to be anything to stop any appeal from progressing in the normal manner and we would expect any case to be heard as soon as possible."
The weather could claim another Scottish Cup fixture victim tonight.
Referee Eddie Smith will inspect Fir Park at 9am ahead of tonight's clash between Motherwell and Dundee, which was postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.
Rangers' UEFA Cup clash with Panathinaikos next Wednesday will be screened live on BBC Scotland.
And the following night BBC Scotland will also show live coverage of Aberdeen's UEFA Cup crunch with Bayern Munich.
