Celtic boss: Referee panel needs looked at in Albian Ajeti simulation case

Nel Lennon says the two-game ban handed to Albian Ajeti for simulation raises questions over the three referees on the panel that issued the punishment, now appealed by Celtic.
Neil Lennon says his Celtic striker Albian Ajeti has no case to answer over the penalty he won at Kilmarnock despite a referee panel handing him a two-match ban for simulation that the Parkhead manager is confident his club will overturn on appeal. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)Neil Lennon says his Celtic striker Albian Ajeti has no case to answer over the penalty he won at Kilmarnock despite a referee panel handing him a two-match ban for simulation that the Parkhead manager is confident his club will overturn on appeal. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Neil Lennon says his Celtic striker Albian Ajeti has no case to answer over the penalty he won at Kilmarnock despite a referee panel handing him a two-match ban for simulation that the Parkhead manager is confident his club will overturn on appeal. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

Television evidence has shown the Swiss striker had his ankle caught by keeper Colin Doyle in winning a penalty during Celtic’s 4-0 win in Kilmarnock. With it not being recognised by the former officials sitting in judgement, Lennon – confident the verdict will be overturned – maintains the focus should not be on Ajeti but on those with explaining to do over the case.

“I certainly don’t understand where this one has come from because you can clearly see that there is contact,” said the Celtic manager. ‘If you’ve three [former] referees looking at that and they can’t see that there’s contact then I think it’s the referees that need to be looked at rather than anything else. I’m pretty sure than one or two of the referees [in the media] said there was contact, so why this process is still ongoing I don’t understand.

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“If there’s no contact, I could understand the charge of simulation, but there is contact. it’s not like he’s jumped away from the goalkeeper. Doyle has made contact with the back of his foot and his foot is inverted. It could have been quite painful. He’s gone down and done what any other player would do around the country, and around the world. This for me is pretty pedantic. I don’t think Albian will miss any games as I don’t think he is a case to answer.”

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