I’m no racist, insists Tonev

Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev has insisted he is not a racist as he prepares to resume a seven-match ban for abusing Aberdeen full-back Shay Logan.

The on-loan Aston Villa player was described as neither a “credible or reliable” witness by a Scottish Football Association-appointed judicial panel in a report that was made public on Tuesday after he lost his appeal against his ban for using racist language.

In a statement last night Tonev again pleaded his innocence.

“It has been a very difficult time for me and everyone involved,” he said.

“I have made my case that I never used the words I was accused of using. I say again that I did not do this, I know what I am and I am not a racist.

“I want everyone to understand that, most of all the Celtic fans. I know what happened and I know I will definitely recover from this as a stronger person.”

Celtic have stood by the Bulgarian despite parts of his evidence being described as “unsatisfactory”.

The club vowed to address the case with the SFA following the verdict of the appeal panel, which called for both its report and the original panel’s findings to be made public.