Celtic boss receives two-game touchline ban
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has received a two-game touchline ban after being dismissed from the technical area during his side’s 2-0 Scottish Premier League loss to Heart of Midlothian on Wednesday, 10 November.
If a manager is sent to the stands by a match official, a two-game ban is the standard punishment, but Lennon’s exile from the dugout could be extended if the match report by referee Craig Thomson reveals any further infringements on the Northern Irishman’s
part.
Lennon had criticised Thomson for his decisions throughout the game. The Celtic boss felt that Joe Ledley should not have been sent off and believed that his side should have had a penalty.
Hearts had taken the lead in the first half through midfielder Ian Black, but the player was on the receiving end of a two-footed tackle by Ledley in the 55th minute.
After the Hoops had gone 2-0 down after a David Templeton goal, Ryan Stevenson handled the ball inside the box but Thomson did not award a penalty.
Lennon was sent to the stands for appearing to protest against the decision to not award his side a spot-kick, however he said that he had no idea why he was dismissed.
He told the BBC that: “The referee just called me over on the advice of the fourth official and sent me to the stand. It was a scandalous decision. I'll seek clarification, but they'll probably have their story ready.
'Disgraceful decision to send off Ledley'
"Once again we're probably talking about a refereeing performance more than anything else. Joe's red card wasn't a foul never mind a sending off. It was a disgraceful decision.
"In the second half we started the stronger team and were playing very well, then that sending off changed the game. I was standing 45 yards away and I could see it was a penalty. So if the referee doesn't see it the stand-side linesman should see it. It
was clearly hand-ball, and I still don't know why I was sent to the stand myself."
The defeat was only Celtic’s second league loss of the season, but the loss of points will have been tempered by the fact that Rangers — who are a single point ahead of the Hoops at the top of the SPL table — also lost on the same night at home to Hibernian.
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