Hedman defends Lennon as police probe alleged gesture

CELTIC star Magnus Hedman yesterday jumped to the defence of under-fire team-mate Neil Lennon after Tayside police confirmed they would launch an investigation into an alleged incident at Dens Park.

Television pictures seemed to show the Northern Irishman make a gesture in the direction of the Dundee supporters during yesterday’s action-packed Bank of Scotland Premier League victory. Referee Dougie McDonald failed to spot the incident and is unlikely to mention it in his report which could save Lennon punishment from the Scottish FA.

However, Lennon could still be in trouble with the police although his team-mates are standing by him.

“I don’t know what the gesture was and I don’t really want to make any comment on it,” shrugged Hedman. “All I can say is that Lennon is a great guy and a fiery character on the pitch and I’m sure there would have been no real offence meant.”

Celtic star Didier Agathe was also at the centre of a storm after the referee saw something nobody else did and wrongly sent him off when he appeared to out-sprint Nacho Novo before making a tackle. Both managers Martin O’Neill and Jim Duffy immediately joined forces in urging the official to admit to making a mistake which is the only way that the SFA would overturn the decision.

Stuart Dougal surprisingly admitted that he was wrong to send Grant Brebner off in last month’s Edinburgh derby and Hedman spoke of his own shock at seeing the red card brandished instead of a Celtic foul. “No, I definitely did not think it was a red card,” insisted the Swedish international goalkeeper. “Didier Agathe is probably the quickest player in the league. I thought the referee had actually blown for a free-kick against Dundee, and it was so disappointing when he brought out the red card.

“Sometimes the referee gets it wrong and they have to accept that.

“The only thing Didier did was to use his pace to effect and it was frustrating to see the referee come to the decision he did.” But there was more bad news for O’Neill as his Champions League injury crisis deepened when Stephen Crainey hobbled off. The Scotland Under-21 defender, whose free-kick set up Bobo Balde’s first-half winner, came into the side with Paul Lambert, Joos Valgaeren, Johan Mjallby, Ulrik Laursen and Steve Guppy all injured.

O’Neill confirmed that he had sustained ligament damage and is out of the daunting clash with Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium which is another big setback for Crainey and the Celtic manager.