Neil Lennon lands a two-match ban for League Cup remarks

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon was last night handed a two-match ban for his criticism of Scottish Communities League Cup final referee Willie Collum, but escaped punishment for his dismissal at Ibrox. Celtic intimated that they will not be appealing against the verdicts.

Lennon faced a Scottish Football Association judicial panel at Hampden yesterday on two charges, and it wasn’t until 7.14pm that the SFA released details of the outcome.

The SFA confirmed it had imposed an immediate two-match ban for his comments following Celtic’s 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Hampden on 18 March.

But, for being sent to the stand during a 3-2 defeat by Rangers the following weekend, the SFA said “the tribunal imposed no further sanction on the basis that the half-game served outwith the technical area was sufficient”.

The Northern Irishman accused Collum of a “criminal” decision not to award Celtic a late penalty at Hampden when Anthony Stokes was booked for simulation after a challenge by Kilmarnock defender Michael Nelson.

Lennon was banned for “making comments in an interview which criticise the performance of a match official in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence”.

Over his dismissal at half-time in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat by Rangers, Lennon accepted a misconduct charge relating to dissent and adopting an aggressive attitude towards a match official after clashing with fourth official Iain Brines.

However, it is understood that the panel did not pursue accusations of insulting and abusive language over Lennon’s discussions with Brines and referee Calum Murray at half-time.

Lennon took assistants Johan Mjallby and Alan Thompson to Hampden yesterday to provide evidence over the issue.

A spokesperson for Celtic said: “We can confirm that we are satisfied with the fairness and spirit of the hearing today and that no appeal will be made against the findings or sanctions.”

Last night’s decision means Lennon will sit in the Fir Park stand when Celtic face Motherwell on Sunday and be absent from the technical area at another Old Firm game, when Rangers visit Parkhead on 29 April.

Lennon could yet face three more charges relating to separate incidents.

The Celtic manager was asked to explain comments made after the Rangers game about hoping for a decent referee performance against St Johnstone the following weekend, although there are suggestions that matter may be dropped. Fresh charges are likely to be brought next week over the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts at Hampden on Sunday.

Lennon marched on to the pitch to confront Euan Norris after the referee awarded Hearts a late penalty for handball but denied Celtic a similar appeal moments later. He later tweeted “I think it’s personal myself” before re-tweeting a comment from a Celtic fan that suggested the club “pack our bags and get out of this league that is run by crooked £SFA officials”.

However, defender Charlie Mulgrew thinks too much has been made of the comments. “I don’t take much notice of it, to be honest,” said the 26-year-old Parkhead defender. “That’s just the person and manager he is, he is just showing a lot of passion and I don’t think there is any changing him.

“It’s something that happens and sometimes maybe a big deal is made out of not very much.

“He has a lot of passion for the game, a lot of passion for Celtic so it is hard to take that away from him. Different people react in different ways and that’s the way he does it. There’s no changing him. Maybe sometimes there is too big a deal made out of it.”

Mulgrew added: “Whatever the manager tweets, that’s up to him.

“We don’t take any notice of that, that is the manager’s personal view and he is allowed to have his own views. No, we just have to do our job and the manager does what he does, and we don’t get involved in it.”

Mulgrew, in his second spell at the Parkhead club, praised Lennon for helping him secure a nomination for the Cheque Centre PFA Scotland player of the year award,.

“The manager has been great, he has had a big role to play,” said the Scotland cap. “He has shown tremendous belief and trust in me and given me confidence.

“There are a lot of boys in the team who have been brought from different clubs and he has either put an arm round them or, at times, shouted at them but I think he has the right balance and a lot of boys owe a big thanks to him.”