Celtic to appeal against O'Neill ban

Celtic will contest UEFA’s decision to ban manager Martin O’Neill from the touchline for two matches.

European football’s governing body hit him with the news he had been dreading after he was sent to the stand by French referee Claude Colombo against Celta Vigo last week.

But Hoops chief executive Ian McLeod has jumped to the defence of his manager by announcing that he would be launching an appeal against the “unreasonable” punishment.

He said: “We believe that the punishment does not fit the supposed crime and that the decision of UEFA’s disciplinary committee against Martin O’Neill is both draconian and unreasonable. We will definitely be appealing.”

His dismissal means he will be absent from the dugout for the second leg in Spain on Thursday when the UEFA Cup third-round tie is decided.

UEFA’s control and disciplinary committee made the ruling today and Celtic have until midnight on Sunday, December 8 to formally appeal.

It is the animated Celtic manager’s second run-in with UEFA having been sent to the stand following the Hoops‘ controversial defeat to Juventus in Turin last year.

O’Neill had called for European football’s governing body to use common sense when dealing with the incident, but it appears he has paid a harsh price.

He had to watch his side’s Champions League match against Porto from the stand last season and he admits on that occasion he did stand out of his technical area.

But the Northern Irishman feels the recent banishment was harsh and has since pleaded his innocence and he is likely to make an appeal against the decision to UEFA and the French official.