Lennon hit with six-game ban

[RAB - P]

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has been hit with a six-game touchline suspension from the Scottish Football Association.

The Hoops boss had launched an appeal against his automatic two-match ban and an additional charge of excessive misconduct after being sent to the stands during the game with Hearts on 10th November.

But the SFA disciplinary committee took a very dim view of Lennon's appeal and opted to treble his original penalty.

The Glasgow giants must now cope without their manager in the dugout for six forthcoming matches during what could be a pivotal period in their season.

Celtic are currently top of the SPL with a four-point cushion over rivals Rangers, although the Ibrox outfit do still have two games in hand.
Guilty

A statement from the SFA confirmed: "Following a meeting of the Scottish FA's Disciplinary Committee at Hampden Park today, the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, was found guilty of excessive misconduct.

"Mr Lennon will serve his automatic two-match ban for being dismissed during the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle on November 10, 2010, plus an additional four matches for excessive misconduct.

"The sanctions are effective from Tuesday, January 18, and Mr Lennon has seven days to appeal the decision."

With Lennon's suspension beginning next week, he will still be in the dug-out for Wednesday's game at Hamilton and the weekend trip to Hibernian.

However, he will be banned for the Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Rangers at Ibrox, after the Old Firm rivals were paired together in today's draw at Hampden.

The Hoops boss is also in the stand for the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie against Aberdeen and two Scottish Premier League games against the Dons, as well as league games against Hearts and Dundee United.

 

[J]

couldnt of happened to a nicer guy.

 

[RAB - P]

Celtic to appeal.

A club statement said: “Celtic and Neil Lennon confirmed today that they will be appealing today's decision by the SFA Disciplinary Committee to impose a six-match touchline ban.

“The matter is in the hands of the club's lawyers.

“We are very surprised and extremely disappointed at today's decision - we believe the punishment imposed was excessive in the circumstances and to our knowledge unprecedented for a first offence.

“We have maintained for some time that a range of SFA processes and structures needed to be reviewed and updated. This view was supported recently by Henry McLeish in his review of the SFA.

“Today's events only underline and reinforce our opinion. Without question Celtic will be supporting its manager Neil Lennon in his appeal .

“As well as challenging the severity of the punishment imposed, our appeal will also focus on issues of procedural fairness and the manner in which such hearings are conducted.”

 

[Paul-K]

Jesus i wish we would just stfu and take the ban..

 

[J]

Jesus i wish we would just stfu and take the ban..

i agree m8
another thing there going to drag on and on
everyones picking on us ,crap

 

[RAB - P]

has he not got other cases still to come up as well.

 

[buzzer]

couldnt of happened to a nicer guy.

pmsl laughing, couldn't agree more.
but be fair, an explanation would be helpfull.

why can't the SFA make public the reasoning behind their decision making?

i was surprised (but not dissapointd) by the severity of the puinishment.

it will only serve to stoke up the parania that already exists......

 

[RAB - P]

Celtic manager Neil Lennon could face further punishment from the Scottish Football Association within a week of being handed a six-match touchline ban.

The SFA's general purposes committee meets on Monday, with comments made by Lennon following defeats by Rangers and Hearts thought to be on the agenda.

Lennon's suspension, which he intends to challenge, is for his dismissal in the same match against Hearts.

The ban was increased for his angry exchange with the fourth official.

The touchline ban was handed out by the SFA's disciplinary committee, which deals with incidents flagged up in official reports from referees and police.

The general purposes committee takes care of less concrete reports of alleged misdemeanour.

Talking to the media in the wake of a 2-0 loss on 10 November, Lennon questioned match officials over a rejected penalty claim for a Ryan Stevenson handball and the red card Joe Ledley was shown at Tynecastle.

Lennon also quipped that the referee and his assistants "probably have their story ready already" - an apparent reference to Dougie McDonald's now infamous false account of why he rescinded a penalty awarded to Celtic against Dundee United earlier in the season.

Lennon could also be taken to task over remarks he made after Celtic's Old Firm derby defeat to Rangers on 24 October.

He criticised referee Willie Collum over the penalty he awarded to Rangers and his failure to send off Lee McCulloch during Celtic's 3-1 reverse.

Comments made by Gary Hooper may also be on the agenda after the striker claimed in November that referees gave decisions against Celtic because they are "one of the biggest clubs in the world".

Referees have come in for flak from a host of managers and players this season, which led to unprecedented strike action by officials in the last weekend of November.

The previously postponed GPC meeting will be the first since referee McDonald, in his resignation statement, accused members of the panel of failing match officials over the years by being too lenient on critical managers.