Peter Lawwell disappointed as Cha Du-ri appeal is dismissed

CELTIC defender Cha Du-ri has lost his appeal against his sending off against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

Referee Calum Murray sent the South Korean off in the first half of the 3-2 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat for hauling back Rangers midfielder Lee Wallace at the edge of the box, deeming it to be an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

A Scottish Football Association Fast Track Tribunal at Hampden yesterday morning rejected Cha’s appeal and a one-match suspension has been imposed with immediate effect which means he misses the visit of St Johnstone on Sunday.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was also at Hampden for the Professional Game Board meeting, and was disappointed to learn the outcome. “I was at another meeting and I’ve just heard,” said Lawwell. “Obviously we think it was the wrong decision and we’re disappointed.”

Asked if he believed the player had a fair hearing, he added: “I wasn’t there so I don’t know. I’m just disappointed.”

It was revealed on Wednesday that the SFA’s compliance officer has written to Neil Lennon for the third time in just over a week, asking for an explanation of comments made by the Celtic manager about referees ahead of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at Parkhead this coming Sunday.

Lennon was quoted in a newspaper as saying: “It will be nice just to be able to go out and think only about winning a game of football – and maybe have a decent refereeing performance into the bargain.”

However, Lawwell said yesterday that he does not believe there is a vendetta against Lennon, insisting: “Not at all. We are taking the appropriate advice and we will make the appropriate representations at the right time.”