SFA cuts Lennon ban to four games

2011-03-04 08:03:31

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has had a touchline ban reduced from six matches to four following an appeal at Hampden.

Lennon had been banned for "excessive misconduct" following an altercation with fourth official Steven McLean in an away defeat by Hearts last November.

His club said they were "surprised and extremely disappointed" in January when the six-match ban was imposed.

Now, having considered Celtic's case, the Scottish FA's Appeals Board has reduced the ban term to four matches.

A statement by the SFA issued on Thursday evening said: "The Appeals Board has tonight found that the Scottish FA's charge of excessive misconduct against the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, was inevitable.

"However, they set aside the original sanction of a two-match automatic suspension plus a further four matches for excessive misconduct and have imposed a new sanction of an automatic two-match suspension and an additional two matches.

"The new sanction will be imposed with immediate effect."

The decision means Lennon will be forced to sit in the stand when Celtic play host to Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday, at Inverness in the Scottish Cup quarter-final on 13 March, at Celtic Park when Hibs are the SPL visitors three days later, then at Hampden for the Co-operative Insurance Cup final against Rangers on 20 March.

Celtic were represented at the Hampden hearing by Paul McBride QC.

When announcing that they planned to appeal, the club had said they felt that Lennon's punishment was "excessive and unprecedented for a first offence".

Lennon could be set to receive another ban for his part in the altercation with Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist at Celtic Park on Wednesday night after his team's 1-0 Scottish Cup fifth-round replay win.

Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon

What are these?

E-mail this to a friend Printable version see also Lennon defuses spat with McCoist 03 Mar 11 |  Celtic Lennon 'censured' for ref remarks 17 Jan 11 |  Celtic Peat angry at 'tiresome' Celtic 12 Jan 11 |  Scotland Celtic boss given six-match ban 11 Jan 11 |  Celtic Lennon ban hearing delayed again 17 Dec 10 |  Celtic SPL survives referee withdrawals 27 Nov 10 |  Scottish Premier Scottish referees vote to strike 21 Nov 10 |  Scottish Premier Lennon defends touchline conduct 12 Nov 10 |  Celtic related bbc links: Celtic fans' views on My Sport BBC Where I Live - Scotland Glasgow weather BBC Sport SPL related internet links: Celtic Scottish Premier League The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Skip to top PRODUCTS & SERVICES Daily and weekly e-mails Mobiles Desktop Tools News feeds Interactive TV Podcasts A-Z of Sports American Football Archery Athletics Badminton Baseball Basketball Bowls Boxing Canoeing Cricket Cycling Darts Disability sport Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Formula 1 Gaelic Games Golf Gymnastics Handball Hockey Horse Racing Ice Hockey Judo Modern Pentathlon MotoGP Motorsport Netball Rowing Rugby League Rugby Union Sailing Shooting Snooker Squash Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball Weightlifting Winter Sports Wrestling blq.setLabel('searchSuggestion', 'Search BBC Sport');

Search term:

bbc.co.uk navigation News Sport Weather iPlayer TV Radio More CBBC CBeebies Comedy Food Health History Learning Music Science Nature Local Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Full A-Z of BBC sites BBC links Mobile site Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy BBC Help Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance

Source: